Tuesday, January 15, 2013

** Trial begins for New Mexico paramedic accused of raping 11-year-old boy

** UK medic given all clear to practice after failing to properly treat brain bleed patient

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The trial of a former New Mexico paramedic, accused of molesting an 11-year-old boy, could take weeks. That at least is the word from the Associated Press (January 11) which said legal proceedings involving Gallup resident Genaro Sandoval will be lengthy due to the case’s heavy reliance on DNA evidence. According to the news service, Sandoval allegedly raped the boy in 2005 after abducting him as the child walked home from school. He has also been linked to five other incidents with four alternate boys. Although Sandoval’s attorney says his client is not the culprit, prosecutor Lisa Trabaudo said Sandoval’s recovered semen proves otherwise.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** A Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic has been given the all clear to practice after he was found fit for the job despite failing to properly treat a woman with a brain bleed and broken chest bone in October 2011. The Daily Post (January 10) said Denbigh Ambulance Station medic Ian Thomas was permitted to keep his licence because of a previously clean work record and expressed regret over the incident. According to the newspaper, Thomas admitted he had misunderstood his patient’s help hail, believing she had fallen up and not down the stairs. He also incorrectly assumed blood coming from the woman’s ear was minor and left her in the care of her husband. The woman was transported to hospital and treated several hours later. Thomas’ line manager spoke on his behalf at the Health Professions Council hearing, saying he had no concerns about future treatment Thomas might render patients. Thomas, for his part, promised to be more careful in the future.