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.
The public shouldn’t have to roll the dice about their emergency services, wondering who’s going to show up
Leaders discuss operational survival in the face of EMS challenges
The new Austin Travis County EMS chief offers tips for rising leaders
Speakers will discuss the most influential NEMSAC recommendations as well as the important work that remains
Officials said 911 calls provide accountability on law enforcement and private organizations
The bill would declare that audio, video and transcripts of 911 calls involving injured victims of crimes or accidents are confidential
Thirty-four other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws
Mark Eugene Pruitt was sentenced to eight years in prison for the shooting death of Lt. Jason Adams
The judge sided with the 12 cities by noting that the state legislature has favored local oversight of ambulance services
Police began citing people with a misdemeanor charge of inducing panic if responders revive them with naloxone
Assembly Bill 428 would mandate public and charter schools keep at least two doses of naloxone hydrochloride or other emergency opioid medications on site
Officials said similar legislation could have kept the man charged with murdering EMT Yadira Arroyo off the streets
Dr. Henri Wetselaar illegally wrote prescriptions for oxycodone and other painkillers that ended up in the hands of drug addicts and dealers
Philip J. Lombardo, 48, was charged with first-degree larceny after being accused of using the company’s credit and debit cards
Danyelle E. Bennett alleges that her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated after she was fired
Based on initial findings, the alleged conduct involved twelve patients; the conduct did not cause injury that required medical attention
The measure must go through two more committees before the House floor
The 9/11 Commission said there’s a “likelihood” that Saudi-government-sponsored charities funded the attacks
Donald Winkler stole the ambulance from the hospital parking lot that had the keys in the ignition
The program will provide free drug disposal pouches to ensure that medications are disposed of properly
Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to sign the bill, which would become law July 1
One EMT died at the hospital and a second remains in critical condition
Officials said Constance Hollinger violated protocol the day of the shooting
A security photo was released on Facebook of the suspected medical kit thief, carrying the blue and black duffel bag full of medical gear
The measure would expand the current Involuntary Treatment Act by including heroin and opioid users under “gravely disabled”
Police were able to disable several of the ambulance’s tires during the chase
The licensed vocational nurses function as EMTs and paramedics in the prison system
The lawsuit claims the companies sold around 40 million doses of hydrocodone and oxycodone to county pharmacies
Four were seriously injured, but none were in a life-threatening condition
Oliver Mauricio Funes-Machado, 18, told dispatchers that he stabbed his mother “like eight times” and left the knife in her mouth
All EMS providers are invited to dream and share big, wild, audacious ideas about the future of EMS
Understanding the complex and multifaceted reasons for low EMS wages is an important first step to improve pay and benefits
Like most issues any ambulance operation must address, there is no “one size fits all” answer as a lot of variables come into play