Friday, August 21, 2009

** Ambulance New Brunswick drafts new policy on dealing with patients in police custody

** Kentucky EMT accused of murder had methadone in her system prior to ambulance crash, report says

CANADA NEWS

** Ambulance New Brunswick has issued new guidelines to medics on how to offer medical treatment to individuals in police custody. That is the word from the Telegraph Journal (Adam Bowie/August 20) which said the policy resulted from an incident taking place July 18. According to the newspaper, medics responded to Fredericton’s Sweetwaters nightclub to treat an off duty soldier. The man was being arrested following an altercation at the site. Although apparently treated while unconscious, Pte. Luc Begin said he was rapidly dismissed by medics as faking when he came to. A spokesman for Ambulance New Brunswick said an investigation is now underway into the matter. The RCMP are also investigating the police officers involved in the melee, one of whom has been suspended. Details of the policy, however, are not clear.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Louisville, Kentucky EMT, charged with murder in the ambulance driving death of a patient, was allegedly under the influence of methadone at the time of the crash. That is the word from WLKY (Andy Alcock/August 20) which quoted a Kentucky State Police report on Tammy Brewer’s condition. According to the news station, Brewer was reportedly acting erratically prior to her ambulance leaving the road. Killed in the 2008 accident was EMS patient Vicki Whobrey, 54.