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.
When EMS leaders can inform, interact, collaborate and inspire “a solution shared is a problem halved”
Key takeaways and memorable moments from the Pinnacle EMS Leadership Forum
Jay Fitch delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking keynote address to EMS leaders on how to future-ready their organization
The national initiative to improve systems of care invites the EMS community to recommend performance measures
The lawsuit also states the employer retaliated against the employees who filed the suit
If convicted, he faces more than four years in prison
EMT Donavan Alden, 32, was killed in the March, 2014 head-on collision; less than a month before becoming a paramedic
Counter cultural festival has chosen a new medical provider for the event that becomes the state’s 4th largest city for a week every August
Lawmakers have introduced and are drafting legislation that includes stricter penalties for swatting
His cell phone was seized to look for evidence of intent to distribute methamphetamine, and authorities found images of naked young boys
The NTSB grounded the helicopter involved, and the county agency voluntarily suspended operations for it’s three other helicopters
The FAA and NTSB are looking at factors like weather and crew performance after STAR Flight rescuer fell when helping hoist an injured woman
Jury found the medic not guilty of all charges stemming from altercation with a patient
A dispatcher told him twice that his microphone was open; he’s on paid administrative leave
There is suspicion within the division that a firefighter or paramedic took the drugs, but officials said nothing has been proven
Cabell County EMS says the ambulance had lights and sirens running when it struck a 16-year-old crossing a busy street by his home
He responded an hour after being dispatched; the woman was found dead in her front yard, holding her phone and her medication, and her body covered in ants
A lawyer arguing that emergency services are not a right might be better off applying negligence theory to house fire that killed a Pa. woman
The family of a 27-year-old who died from positional asphyxia when secured in a prone position received a settlement from a lawsuit; 5 EMTs involved in the incident were suspended
An EMT told the man to call 911 and then shut the firehouse’s door, despite being able to see the fire
A 911 dispatcher sent firefighters to the wrong address; a woman at the home was found dead and the county’s defense attorney argues emergency services are not a constitutional right that residents are entitled to
The department’s mission statement sets the expectation for morale and must align with the motivations of personnel
To truly build a culture that values education, the continuous process of learning must be a part of all levels within the organization
He took the Houston Fire ambulance from a hospital; chase ended when he ran over spike strips
The family of the deceased is suing the city and the defibrillator maker, claiming the man died because of the 14 minutes it took for the unit to deliver a shock
The federal suit claims more than 100 EMTs were also affected and may provide an option for them to “opt-in”
A woman filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, claiming crew members mistook her husband’s medical emergency for unruly behavior aboard a flight and didn’t assist him
If charged with sexual assault on the job, here are the steps agencies and providers should take to protect themselves, and advice for bouncing back from a false accusation
Curtis Ambulance failed to file a special event plan when Dennis Munson Jr. died in his debut kickboxing bout; the care provided was determined to be medically appropriate
A 25-year-old man died one week after he was rushed to the hospital with spinal injuries following an encounter with four Baltimore officers
Charges allege the service put unionization efforts under surveillance, and suspended two employees who supported a union after employees voted against it
Chief Bill Gamble appointed after the top three Mat-Su borough EMS officials resigned or were fired after complaints about their leadership
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