Legal Issues
The legal issues topic contains news and information about legal issues affecting EMS personnel, agencies or departments. Find the latest news from personnel misconduct, to disciplinary and harassment cases, to malpractice lawsuits, as well as advice to prevent legal action with EMS training, documentation and management.
Can you have transparency without honesty and communication?
Processing trauma is more complicated than we think
Readers sound off on what’s attracting new talent and keeping members satisfied
Three guidelines to follow if your agency is considering a policy to allow patient transport of seriously injured patients by means other than ambulance
An NREMT study demonstrates the factors that lead to attrition in EMS and areas important to EMS retention efforts
Brad Saddler was indicted on charges of second-degree official misconduct after being accused of sharing a recording of a call about a weapon in a vehicle
A city manager confirmed that officials are investigating the allegations that fire department paramedics and management falsified training documents
Submitting false EMS transport claims to Medicare for reimbursement is a violation of the False Claims Act
Police said the alleged victim was in the back of the ambulance with Donovan Cobb, who said “it’s not rape,” and grabbed her in an inappropriate way
The 57-page suit alleges the city has failed to deter a long-standing, pervasive culture of sexual harassment throughout the department’s firehouses and facilities
While EMS education and protocols are important, experience proves that every situation is different and nuanced
It’s important to brush up on protocols, equipment and other areas of EMS after taking some time away from the field
Police responded to a hospital after a woman reported that her boyfriend had assaulted her; he fled in an ambulance with his 18-month-old son
A lawsuit alleges wrongful death and negligence on the part of the airline for, among other allegations, refusing to divert the plane for an emergency landing
“Individuals have used Cambria County radio frequency to transmit false information while posing as police officers,” District Attorney Kelly Callihan said
EMS crews were assessing Jesus Ceja, who was reported to be under the influence of an unknown substance
Tawny Long said she was “very, very wrong” for moving the ambulance, which she said had been done to her multiple times while on shift
A federal investigation was launched after a whistleblower alerted authorities about records that falsely showed his attendance at trainings he never completed
Champion EMS is suing ETMC EMS, the city of Tyler and Smith County and claims that government officials helped the agency create a healthcare monopoly
Investigators said Michael Sowders, who had been shot, was found under a pile of garbage at an illegal dump site
Julie Lahr, who has been in EMS for 16 years, said she started thinking outside the box after realizing the impact community paramedics and mental health specialists could make in the field
The report said paramedics followed protocol in administering the sedative that was commonly used without incident
Our co-hosts respond to a listener’s email regarding where medical marijuana fits into public safety, especially EMS
Harris County jurors on Wednesday found Crenshanda Williams guilty of interference with emergency telephone calls
Police said Karen McGlasson Harold crashed into the dealership and then “unlawfully and willfully” crashed into the responding ambulance
Donovan Dixon was found guilty of 20 counts of unlawfully distributing oxycodone, as well as conspiracy to distribute the opioid
Katherine Phillips and her boyfriend allegedly broke into First Call Ambulance Service and stole numerous medications
Scott White, who was suspected of being high on drugs, kicked the EMTs who were attempting to treat him, causing one to fall down stairs
Police said Tony Beverly was found inside a patient’s home wearing bunker pants and identified himself as a volunteer firefighter
Police said it is unclear whether or not the dispatcher will face disciplinary action
Considerations for planning interdisciplinary training and staging include properly equipping EMS providers and developing a common lexicon
Officials pledged to find out what went wrong in the death of a teen who became trapped by a minivan seat and was found dead about six hours after calling 911
Ann Marie Thomas was sentenced after delaying response when dispatchers put out a call for help for a dying baby, despite being less than a mile away
