Wednesday, May 4, 2011
** Illinois medic sues doctor who assaulted him at hospital
** Calgary paramedic feted for weight loss by US TV host
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A fall 2010 incident, in which a Chicago doctor allegedly punched an EMT, has resulted in the medic suing for $150,000 in damages. WLS 890 AM (May 2) said practitioner Brandon M. Santiago filed the lawsuit in connection with an assault happening October 24. According to the news site, the attack occurred at the hospital after Santiago had transported an inebriated physician who became ill at a house party. At first unwilling to go, the sick doctor became combative in the ambulance, removing restraints, and harassing the female medic attending him. Once at the facility, Santiago assisted by holding the patient’s chest to prevent the stretcher from overturning. Dr. Kishor G. Ajmere, who was in the ambulance’s passenger seat accompanying his drunk friend, both cursed and threatened Santiago; he then drunkenly punched him in the jaw. He was convicted February 28 of battery. Along with damages, Santiago’s suit also requests the revocation of Ajmere’s medical licence.
CANADA NEWS
** A Calgary paramedic enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame recently when he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The Calgary Herald (Valerie Berenyi/May 2) said Mike Hilton, 32, was toasted by the show’s host for losing 104 pounds in the last 20 months. According to the newspaper, Hilton and his wife Shannon were treated like celebrities during the lead-up to their appearance, with an expensive hotel stay and limo ride thrown in. Ninety-nine other people were similarly feted. The episode is set to air May 10.
