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.
Barishansky and Lawrence discuss speaking and writing in the EMS environment
Do those in public safety do a good job of taking advantage of what’s available to help them in their times of need?
Judgment is sometimes a matter of life or death, but it is also a matter of professional credibility
The post mentioned a patient who died after suffering a heart attack in a backyard chicken coop
The shattered glass sprayed into the paramedic’s eye during the attack
The patrol says the stash was a record fentanyl seizure in Nebraska and estimates the drugs may have been worth up to $20 million on the street
Ashley Flores’ family filed a wrongful death claim against Los Angeles County and Sheriff Jim McDonnell, alleging that multiple 911 calls were misrouted
EMS1 leaders reflect on the fitting theme of EMS Week 2018, and how their colleagues have furthered their own careers and contributions to the field
With three psychologists offering varying views of the mental stability of Genaro De La Cruz Ajqui, a judge ordered him to be taken to a forensic hospital
Police said Kyle Jones joined a rapid response team in the same color scrubs worn by nurses at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
Officials are seeking help from the state to figure out why DeKalb County did not hold AMR accountable for long response times
Sherry Groover’s lawyer said the “defendants failed to take action” when Groover’s brother suffered a fatal heart attack in 2014
The city of Mattoon filed a lawsuit against the union over an arbitration award that gave the city the power to remove ambulances from the fire department
After an EMT was shown punching a teen patient in an ambulance, city council officials want the state to give Dunwoody its own EMS certificate
EMT Deannah Williams can be seen screaming expletives and repeatedly punching the 17-year-old patient in the face
Anthony Mario Fortuna was sentenced for impersonating an EMS provider after receiving permission to be on a “ride along” in an AMR ambulance
The prosecution found Jose Gonzalez to be fit to stand trial for the murder of Yadira Arroyo, who was run over by her ambulance after it was stolen
Paramedics are outraged that Amanda Warren and Caris Underwood’s sentences were revoked because a judge said they should not be imprisoned
The responder told police he was working in the back of the ambulance when two suspects stole the ambulance and eventually pushed him out after a struggle
Cori Christensen, 32, was arraigned Friday on one count of battery against a health care worker, assault and resisting or obstructing an officer
Durelle Johnson jumped into the unattended rig while an AMR employee was dropping off a patient inside the hospital
Terrance Skeen was found not guilty after being accused of spitting on an African-American child and threatening his grandfather
Consider policy changes through the lens of quality improvement science before implementing new strategies in patient care
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
