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.
You wouldn’t make cookies with just a fraction of the ingredients, why would you make decisions without all the data?
The ripple effects of OSHA’s vaccinate or be tested requirement and CMS’ healthcare vaccination rule
Data, even when it’s inaccurate or represented out of context, can confirm our biases. Answer five questions about how your agency’s data is being shared and interpreted
Use these challenges to improve communication skills and trust in groups of EMS personnel or students
Brian LaCroix, Allina Health EMS, and Dr. Ed Racht, AMR, were recognized for their leadership and commitment to advancing EMS
The paramedic was charged with seven counts each of grand theft and possession of a controlled substance
The medics couldn’t reach the visually impaired man’s contact person after he was discharged from the hospital so they left him at another hospital
Progressive discipline, mandatory reporting and regular performance evaluations can improve the quality of patient care
Conducting appropriate background checks on applicants and personnel is part of how EMS agencies protect patients from harm
The county writes off millions owed for ambulance calls and other EMS services every year
An unknown man reportedly jumped into the vehicle and drove off while two EMTs assisted a patient
The woman didn’t receive any help for about an hour because she was pronounced dead by the first paramedic on scene
An ambulance crew had a duty to get out of the ambulance, thoroughly inspect the scene for the patient, look for evidence that a patient fled, and document their response
The paramedic used the patient’s record to find the woman’s phone number and later repeatedly texted her
Steve-O climbed a crane in Hollywood to protest SeaWorld, drawing dozens of emergency responders to the rescue
The medics, as well as the chief and assistance chief, are on leave after granting request of woman’s husband and power of attorney to halt resuscitation
Leaders must maintain agency progress through continual reassessment and evaluation
Travis Bowman, 31, allegedly went into a home the paramedics were responding to on two occasions
The Ill. EMTs, Johnny A. High Jr. and Jessica L. Arms, allegedly used credit card stolen from an ambulance patient to buy food, gasoline and other items
Woman alleges the assault happened in the back of the ambulance while she was having a partial seizure; NYPD SVU is investigating
Imadeldin Awad Khair pleaded guilty in 2003 to healthcare fraud and was prohibited from participating in Medicare, Medicaid
Bill introduced in Texas legislature seeks to prohibit imposter ambulances and is a model for all states
Until the time comes that an image or series of images can capture the honesty, humanity, sorrow, triumph, exhilaration and tedium that accompanies every EMS shift, ‘watching it’ will never compare to ‘living it’
Lack of training, confusing policy, and bystander conflict make halting or continuing resuscitation nearly impossible for medics to do what’s right
Groton Ambulance Association has also come under recent scrutiny for failing to staff ambulances
He will serve up to 10 years in prison for the assault charge
Medics say they are practicing “fast-food medicine” and may cut corners and drive faster to meet a goal of 70 minutes per call
Without advance directives, medics are often asked to trust distraught relatives who may not know the wishes of their dying loved ones
The company provided non-emergency services to many dialysis patients, and billed Medicare for unnecessary transports
A Mass. hospital was fined $218,400 for HIPAA violations stemming from use of an internet document sharing application
If you treat everyone equally, no one will feel the need to go above and beyond because they don’t feel their actions are recognized or rewarded
Questions that need to be answered well before an on duty loss of life or serious injury
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