Wednesday, November 18, 2009
** Memorial service for downed California air ambulance crew to be held Friday
** West Virginia EMT arrested for indecent exposure
** Former Texas medic’s trial on euthanizing terminally ill patients delayed
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A memorial service has been set for Friday in Susanville, California to remember the crew of a downed air ambulance that crashed last Saturday. The Associated Press (November 17) said the commemoration will be held at 1 p.m. at Susanville’s Municipal Airport Lifeflight hangar. Meanwhile, investigators continue to look into the cause of the crash which took place around 2 a.m. after a patient drop-off in Reno. Although the pilot did manage to issue a mayday seconds before the chopper’s plunge, definitive accident causes are proving elusive. Killed in the mishap was chief flight paramedic Christopher Ritz, 37, chief flight nurse Clinton Reger, 40, and pilot James Bradshaw, 39.
** For the second time in three years, a Fairmont, West Virginia medic has been arrested for indecent exposure. The State Journal (Jessika Lewis/November 16) said Edward Utter, 40, was taken into custody Thursday after a woman issued a complaint. According to the newspaper, the woman claimed Utter exposed his genitals to her while in an alley. In March, 2006 a girl also accused Utter of a similar action. Charges in that case, however, were stayed. Utter currently works for Harrison County EMS, as well as Anmoore EMS and Taylor County Rescue Squad. Both Harrison and Taylor are conducting internal investigations into the matter. The West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services is also looking into the case.
** A former Austin, Texas EMT, accused of killing terminally ill patients while working as a military nurse, has had his court martial trial delayed. My Fox Austin (Paul J. Weber/Associated Press/November 16) said Capt. Michael Fontana, who allegedly overdosed three DNR patients at Wilford Hall Medical Center, was to have been tried Monday at Lackland Air Force Base. Jury selection has been delayed, with no new start date. Expected to plead not guilty, Fontana could face life in prison, if convicted.
