Wednesday, March 16, 2011

** Pennsylvania EMS chief charged with sexual assault

** Scottish woman sues ambulance service over epileptic daughter’s death

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Cranberry, Pennsylvania EMS chief has been charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old man. The Lebanon Daily News (AP/March 11) said Frank Tedesco Jr., 29, has already been arraigned and is now free on bond. According to police, Tedesco allegedly plied his victim with alcohol March 5 while at a bonfire;he then assaulted him when the individual fell asleep. Heading up an ambulance service some 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, Tedesco has now been suspended pending the outcome of the charges.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** The mother of an epileptic who allegedly died after a lengthy EMS delay on the part of the Scottish Ambulance Service is being allowed to continue with her lawsuit against the organization. The Daily Record (Gordon Mcilwraith/March 11) said Margaret Aitken was given the go ahead at a Court of Session Thursday to proceed to a full hearing on the matter. Aitken contends her daughter Nikki, 15, was helped into death by a 33 minute delay in an ambulance arriving to treat her. The ambulance service, meanwhile, unsuccessfully argued its duty to care began only once the EMS crew was on scene. Nikki, who suffered the deadly seizure in November 2003 while at home in Ibrox, Glasgow, had dealt with epilepsy since childhood. Although 999 was called immediately that day, a non transporting rapid response medic treated the girl first before hailing an ambulance to take her to hospital. She died several hours later. Attempting to claim some 50,000 pounds in damages, Aitken is also suing the National Health Service.