Editor’s note: Donors all over the world are sending blankets to a Detroit paramedic after news broke that he was being punished for giving a blanket to a cold fire victim.
Last week I sat on this very sorry story involving Detroit EMS and its attempt to discipline a medic who apparently was providing care to a patient.
Regular readers know that I’ve commented on the Motor City’s inability to get their priorities straight and provide the compassionate, professional care its citizens deserve.
Reading last week’s headlines, I was so irritated that after trying to write out an editorial that didn’t contain several epithets, I gave up. And I’m glad I did — it appears that many people were irked by the way the city dealt with the issue and a spontaneous protest of sorts has provided support to the medic involved.
That’s what I love about our industry: its ability to stand up for what’s right for the patient and calling out BS when necessary.
I wish we could send them things like ambulances, equipment and a large bolus of common sense, since that’s really what they need. It’s really not rocket science.
Even in hard financial times, innovation and leadership can go a long way in making things work. Apparently those two items are in short supply at Detroit EMS.
At least they have blankets.
