Thursday, June 16, 2011

** Missouri paramedic recovering after being shot outside laundromat

** Bahraini medics go on trial alongside other medical personnel for alleged role during rioting

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A St. Louis, Missouri paramedic continues to recover in hospital after being shot one week ago outside a laundromat. KSDK (Sharon Stevens/June 9) said Chaun Williams was hit several times around 10 p.m. Transported to hospital in critical condition, he has since undergone several surgeries. Doctors say further procedures will be necessary. Williams has worked EMS with the city’s fire department since February 2008. Police say they do not know what would have motivated Williams’ attacker.

BAHRAIN NEWS

** Paramedics, doctors, and nurses working at the Salmaniya Medical Complex during recent rioting have been placed on trial for allegedly inciting riots, interrupting medical service, and endangering lives. CNN (Nic Robertson/June 11) said the court case, which began Monday, includes 24 doctors, 23 nurses, and various EMS responders. According to the newspaper, outside observers have dubbed the proceedings a scam, with defendants being denied the right to dispute charges against them. Along with alleging that medical personnel harbored automatic weapons at the hospital, prosecutors are also contending staff kidnapped bystanders and denied treatment to Sunnis and ethnic Indians. Human rights pundits, however, say those on trial are being persecuted for treating protestors. Since the unrest, some 30 people have died and around 1,000 have been detained. During much of the March rioting, regular reports surfaced about government troops attacking medical staff.