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.
”... As frustrated as I’ve ever been on a call, I can’t fathom doing any of these things to a patient,” one commenter wrote
When lots of red flags are waving, assess the patient, provide compassionate care and always take “I can’t breathe” seriously
“When the prosecutor sees and hears compassion, competence and professionalism, even in the face of significant errors being made, it becomes much harder to justify filing criminal charges”
The paramedic crew was responding to a medical emergency when thieves broke into their ambulance and stole a purse and keys, along with medical supplies
Natasha Michelle Scott allegedly led police on a chase that reached 90 miles per hour before she was captured a half-hour later with the use of a spike strip
Patient-centered care partnerships with patients and family need to start at the top
Three suspects forced a 44-year-old FDNY EMT at gunpoint into his car after his shift
Allegations of false education credits being awarded to SFD paramedics prompted an investigation by city and state officials
Steven Snively and Christopher Marchant were fired from the Hamilton Paramedic Service after being criminally charged with failure to provide necessities of life
Our co-hosts discuss a recent article that raises the question of personal liability for EMS workers
Position statements from our national leadership are helpful, but we must make culture change ourselves
The EMS crew found Thien Nguyen, who was suspected of breaking into a store, after he fell off of his bicycle
Jumaane Williams was sentenced to time served after blocking an ambulance during a protest over the detention of a prominent immigration rights activist
Federal investigators said the plane had been repaired three times in the six weeks before it crashed Nov. 2016, killing four people
Officials said Pamela Cash grew impatient while waiting for relatives to pick her up and decided to drive home in the ambulance
The city of Paterson will pay $166,666 in retroactive checks to 33 EMTs, which covers pay raises the EMTs claimed they could have received from 2003 to 2007
Police said Curtis Collman II not only refused to call 911 to try and save his son, but threatened others who tried to call for help as the boy overdosed on meth
Officials said the man chased paramedics with an ax, rammed a van into an ambulance, then tried to steal the ambulance
Melissa Hall claims she was fired after reporting to officials that “she was asked to do things she believed in good faith to be unethical and unlawful”
The woman allegedly bit a paramedic tending to injuries on her finger after she wrecked her car near her house
Steven Snively and Christopher Marchant were arrested and charged with failing to provide the necessities of life after Yosif Al-Hasnawi was shot
Jacqueline Wein was sentenced 15 months to three years in state prison for biting the hand of a paramedic who was helping to transport her
Hillsborough County will reopen its review of four paramedics facing discipline in the case of a stroke patient who died, saying it needs to know more
A police investigation fully cleared EMS of Georgia of any wrongdoing after a woman accused the agency of a hit-and-run
A Hillsborough County Administrator said the paramedics violated three areas of standard procedure
Police sergeant challenges and educates EMS leaders to do more to reduce the risk and occurrence of sexual harassment for all employees
NFPA 3000 is a framework for preparing EMS agencies, fire departments, other responders and communities for active shooter incident response and recovery
Jay Fitch, Ph.D., tells Pinnacle leaders that collaboration with colleagues and frenemies is critical to greater operational success
Todd Shell allegedly stole an ambulance from a hospital and led police on a chase after being treated for a heat-related issue
Doctors, bioethicists and academics signed onto a federal complaint alleging Hennepin Healthcare conducted high-risk ketamine research on unwitting participants
John O’Leary, a survivor of 100 percent TBSA burn as a child, delivered an inspiring opening keynote to Pinnacle EMS conference attendees
The Orland Park Fire Protection District and 13 other municipalities are suing several manufacturers, distributors and doctors in state court
Joshua Bragg is back in custody after he unbuckled himself from a cot and jumped out of the back of an ambulance while on medical furlough