Friday, July 29, 2011

** Tennessee EMT still employed after knowingly working 22 months without EMS licence

** UK newbie paramedic almost defibrillates partner;ordered to work under supervision

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Memphis, Tennessee EMT, who knowingly worked on an inactive licence for 22 months, has received little more than a slap on the wrist for toiling illegally. My Fox Memphis (Jill Monier/July 26) said Shelby County practitioner Joseph Mark Brown remains employed despite the infraction. Along with being handed a 90 day probation, he was tagged with a $1,000 fine. He was also fined $2200 by the Tennessee Board of EMS. Fire department spokesman Brent Perkins said Brown was a good practitioner who made a mistake and  in whom the department was well invested. This was despite the fact that Brown let his licence lapse in 2001 as well.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** 18 months of supervision is the sentence given to a paramedic who almost electrocuted her partner when she tried defibrillating a patient. The South Yorkshire Times (July 27) said newly qualified practitioner Deborah Gosling neglected to tell her colleague to stand clear before administering the jolt in September of 2008. Averting disaster when her mentor stopped her from proceeding, Gosling was described at a Health Professions Council hearing as uninformed on drugs and procedures, as well as incapable of working independently. Clinical educator Simon Bird said she also failed assessments and demonstrated little desire to improve.