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.
Strategies for overcoming the unique challenges of leading a non-profit EMS organization
Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that the time saved with lights and siren use has little-to-no impact on patient outcomes
How disciplinary action is perceived offers evidence for implementing Just Culture values
The Justice Department is conducting an investigation into possible civil rights violations that could result in federal charges
She was charged with involuntary manslaughter after an inmate she was caring for died
He was suspected after his partner thought he might be drunk, then found two morphine vials that appeared to be tampered with
We need to be better prepared to handle violent patients and should always take legal action against assailants
On one occasion, he attempted to pass a fraudulent prescription while in uniform and operating a fire truck
He and seven others were accused of skimming nearly $500K from the private nonprofit agency in Ohio
EMS providers are vulnerable to addiction by the nature of their jobs, and an unfortunate story highlights the need to plan ahead for this situation
Understanding the 80/20 rule and that multitasking is a myth can lead to better productivity
Approaching every scene with calmness, compassion, command presence and code choreography leads to better patient care
He was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated manslaughter for the 2012 accident that killed an EMT and a patient
The borough filed a lawsuit saying the communication company was “endangering the health and safety” of residents
The ambulance company said they spotted the irregularity soon and terminated the paramedic, who now faces criminal charges
His Dominican wife allegedly threatened to “go to police” he didn’t “go through with the green card”
Family members later discovered the watch listed on eBay
The chase drew multiple law enforcement agencies as it crossed county lines
Owners claim their ethnicity alone triggered the denial of millions in Medicare funding
With an understaffed EMS crew and outdated medical equipment, the city is in need of more funding
Police found the suspect next to the crashed ambulance with a blanket and box of crackers
The man was initially brought to hospital after deliberately causing a traffic accident
A Philadelphia-based ambulance company allegedly paid up to $500 a month for the passengers to use their service
In addition to 64 months in prison, she is to pay over $2M in restitution
He cites 41 instances of patients being charged for transport in an ALS ambulance without a medic on board
Their mother is in a coma after calling for help, but was unable to let crews in; the building is supposed to have a system that allows access for emergency services
This marks the second accusation rallied against the service since 2013
As part of the agreement, she will resign from the fire department as of Nov. 15; neither she or city officials have admitted wrongdoing
He is licensed to carry a firearm; the gun discharged at an apartment and a man suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his jaw and neck
She alleges she was terminated as a result of a post that criticized how the mayor handled the arrest of a retired firefighter and razing of his home
He’s accused of using gas to sedate women and video recording the assault of a 15-year-old girl
Fire Chief Mark Burdick apologized for language used by firefighters who appear in the video
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