DOBSON, N.C. ― A convicted sex offender who was allowed to become a licensed EMT is being sued for failing to act to prevent the suicide death of a patient.
Michael Bryan Cochran, 38, became an EMT despite a state law prohibiting him from doing so.
Chochran and his wife, Rhonda, ignored protocol when they spoke over the phone to Megan Wood, 26, as she threatened to kill herself, reported the Citizen-Times.
Instead of calling for help, the couple allegedly kept Wood on the phone because they did not want authorities to know Cochran was having an affair with Wood. Wood shot herself May 25, 2014.
Wood’s mother, Dawn Wood, is suing the Cochrans and Surry County.
Had Cochran “contacted emergency authorities in Surry County immediately, help could have gotten to Megan over one hour prior to her death, intervened appropriately and more likely than not prevented her suicide,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also name the chief and members of the State Road Volunteer Fire Department, who said it supported the EMT license for Cochran even though they knew of his record. Surry County Emergency Services and its training director were also named in the lawsuit.
Although state law prohibits those registered as sex offenders to become licensed EMTs, Cochran successfully petitioned to have his name removed from the registry.
Wood is seeking over $25,000 in damages.