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.
Compassion elevates emergency medical care to a ministry of kindness
I know Memphis Fire, and while the inactions of three members should not reflect on the entire FD, we must learn from these fatal errors
The key to understanding how others see us is to first see ourselves clearly
Jon Cinelli came under investigation after officials observed him allegedly violating regulations that required two paramedics to empty the drug drop-off box
Police officers found the ambulance was missing from the bay and a rescue worker found a T-shirt and iPhone near where the vehicle had been parked
The Unicare Ambulance LLC and PA Paramedics LLC made false statements from September 2015 through August 2016 to avoid over payment debts to the Medicare program
Off-duty EMTs Sweeny and Bundschuh improvised to save a person that was actively bleeding from the neck
Lawmakers reached a deal in May with firefighters and police officers to provide PTSD benefits up to one year, but the deal excludes EMTs
Organizations are combating overdoses with outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and inpatient residential treatment
Certification standards, research and degree requirements are necessary to support a career pathway for paramedics
Authorities have not named a suspect at this time and officials said it is not clear how anyone gained access to the narcotics
Since 2010, the city and Tri-C have swapped an old ambulance, SCBA packs and old fire hose for tuition credits
First responders are investigating the explosion and report multiple injuries
“I took the ambulance, and I don’t remember why I did it,” a criminal complaint quotes Jaime Rivera-Juarez as telling cops when he was arrested
The suit claims an EMT did not lift a man properly and dropped him, causing a broken shoulder that never healed properly
Luis Alvarez assumed the spotlight to push Congress into action to aid first responders who developed life-threatening diseases from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks
According to Council President Mark Haney, Smith had been asking for a 60% increase in its contract — from $14 per person to $22 per person
The lawsuit alleges that since the fees are improperly imposed, residents will “continue the undue hardship and financial burden of defending their rights against” the law firm
The Senate wants more time to study the issue and other provisions passed by the House as part of the workers’ compensation budget
A.J. Isaacs was an EMS captain and had been with the fire department for 25 years before dying of an overdose
Bryan Matthew Cooney, 30, will be under 30 years of supervised release after his prison term
Fund advocates say Sen. Mitch McConnell committed to scheduling a vote in August to renew the fund before it expires
A department spokesperson said the paramedics, who were inside the hospital when the ambulance was taken, did not deviate from procedures
The DeKalb County commission voted to extend its contract with an ambulance provider that has faced criticism for years that it responds too slowly to emergency situations
Port Jervis Fire Department Firefighter Nicholas McKeon was sleeping in front of the bay doors and was killed after being struck by an ambulance responding to a call
Kris Kaull relates his most memorable call, and how practice, and a mindset to control what you can allows EMS providers to provide help and calm during the chaos
Port Jervis Fire Department Firefighter Nicholas McKeon was asleep in front of the bay door when the ambulance struck him on its way out
Many of the problems trace back to the lack of clear state rules for determining who is selected to provide emergency transport services and how they are vetted
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by the employee and joined by the federal government and doesn’t require Hart to Heart to admit liability
The bill would have required air ambulance companies that operate subscription services to enter into reciprocity agreements
A hands-on patient assessment must be performed to declare a victim dead, even at a potential crime scene
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs across the country laid out a framework for negotiating a settlement, which could mean these communities getting billions of dollars to split
The paramedics immediately radioed for help from police but wrestled the gun away from the man on their own
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