Tuesday, March 22, 2011

** Ohio paramedic faces arraignment over bogus medical leave excuse forms

** Bahraini ambulances damaged as Middle East violence continues

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Cleveland, Ohio paramedic is set to be arraigned next Wednesday on charges he faked sick leave claims. That is the word from NewsNet5 (March 18) which said Lamar Barnes, 47, who quit his job in December of 2009, stands accused of two counts of theft in office and two counts of records tampering. According to the news site, Barnes allegedly submitted bogus medical leave excuses to the city EMS department between 2004-2009. The papers involved claims for both him and his family. Prosecutor Bill Mason said Barnes has received thousands of dollars in compensation he was not entitled to. Barnes worked for Cleveland EMS for 18 years.

BAHRAIN NEWS

** EMS workers continue to be caught in the centre of Middle East violence, this time with several ambulances at Manama’s Salmaniya Medical Complex being damaged by protesters. The Gulf Daily News (March 20) said some 10 ambulances had their tires slashed and their engines vandalized;medical equipment was also taken from the vehicles. Although five have already been returned to service, several of the units will require thousands of dollars in repairs. In other news, persecution of medics is also ongoing, with the newspaper saying several providers have been detained by police in relation to allegedly fostering public discontent.