Raymond Brown
Cambridge Evening News
ENGLAND — A paramedic who blew a kiss to a suicidal patient in Burwell and told her “You’re pretty when you smile” has been found guilty of misconduct.
Kenneth Sell “behaved in an inappropriate manner” while attending to ‘Patient A’ at her home in Burwell, the Health Professions Council (HPC) found.
It said days later the paramedic, who is employed by the East of England Ambulance Service, “made inappropriate contact with Patient A by telephone”.
However, it rejected allegations that he actually kissed the woman on the lips on a number of occasions and hugged her, and that his actions were sexually motivated.
It said that, between April 1, 2008 and January 20, 2011, there were 58 emergency calls made from Patient A’s address, the majority of which were made in relation to her suicide attempts and overdoses. The patient cannot be named for legal reasons.
The HPC’s conduct committee’s decision states: “Having found some of the facts proved on the oral and written evidence adduced by the HPC and of the admissions of the registrant, the panel next considered whether they constitute misconduct. They clearly do.
“In acting as he did, the registrant (Mr Sell) was in breach of the Standards of Conduct performance and ethics of the HPC.
“It is only fair to note that the registrant, through his representative, accepts that his actions in relation to the matters he admitted, did constitute misconduct.”
The HPC’s conduct and competence committee said the incident happened on or around December 9, 2009.
The panel imposed a caution order that will remain on Mr Sell’s professional registration for two years.
It also noted Mr Sell was a paramedic with a 30-year unblemished record who had been sympathetic towards Patient A, and that his actions “whilst inappropriate were not sexually motivated”.
A spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service said it launched an internal inquiry after the allegations came to light and Mr Sell resigned before it was completed.
The spokeswoman added: “We suspended Kenneth Sell as soon as we became aware of these allegations and immediately suspended him and instigated a thorough internal investigation process.
“We also referred the incident to the HPC and co-operated fully with their investigation as well as a police investigation. Mr Sell chose to resign before the investigation was completed.”