Friday, June 29, 2007

** Indiana EMTs sued after patient plunges from stretcher

** Sussex, UK paramedic charged with dangerous driving

** Paramedics fill in for nurses in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Muncie, Indiana EMT pair is being sued by the family of a Montpelier man who died after he dropped from their stretcher. The Star Press (Nick Werner/June 28) said the $1 million wrongful death suit involves the May 16, 2004 demise of Jack Capper, 44. According to the newspaper, Capper sustained both a torn diaphragm and multiple rib fractures in the May 3 fall. He also had a pre-existing bowel obstruction, but the official cause of death was heart attack and kidney failure. Along with EMTs Troy Harshman and Timothy Stapleton, the suit also names Ball Memoral Hospital and Eaton EMTs Inc. The case will go before a jury September 25 in Delaware.  

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** A Sussex paramedic has been charged with appearing in Fareham Magistrates’ Court July 5, after being tagged with dangerous driving. The BBC (June 28) said East Preston resident Andrew Collis was arrested by police in relation to a Hants incident on February 9. According to the news service, Collis seriously injured the female driver of another vehicle when he lost control of his ambulance, struck a car and then an electricity pole. The woman, who hailed from Swanmore, is currently under care in Bath.

CANADA NEWS

** A lack of Sheet Harbour nurses has prompted the local hospital to increasingly rely on paramedics. That is the word from CBC Nova Scotia (June 28) which said the Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital currently has only two nurses on duty per shift. Capital District Health Authority spokesman Sheila Martin said medics are used when draws on the system become too heavy. Dubbed a stop gap measure, the approach has seen the nurses union respond cautiously. Spokesman Janet Hazelton said her members are endorsing the move as a temporary fix until more nurses can be hired.