Friday, February 26, 2010

** Kentucky EMT sentenced to 12 years in prison for killing his wife

** British military facing prehospital provider shortage

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A former Louisville, Kentucky EMT has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for murdering his wife. That is the word from WAVE 3 (February 23) which said Michael Whitehead pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in relation to the March 2009 death of Ashley Whitehead, 24. According to the news site, Michael Whitehead admitted stealing medications from his EMS station to treat his spouse’s Crohn’s disease. Among the drugs pilfered was phenergan and hydrocodone.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is actively recruiting paramedics after figures were released indicating a shortage of EMS practitioners. The BBC (February 25) said the medical support services personnel category where prehospital providers are lumped is over 200 positions short of a full complement. Nursing positions, alternately, are down some 400 spaces. Conservative politicians told the news service they were horrified by the problem, given the military’s involvement in active war zones. Defence minister Kevan Jones, however, said, despite shortfalls, soldiers are not being sent into harm’s way without adequate medical back-up. An MoD spokesman echoed the sentiments, adding compensatory measures include using reservists, increasing recruitment incentives, and reshuffling resources.