** Former Connecticut paramedic sentenced tomorrow for sexually assaulting female patient
** UK ambulance service on hot seat after personal details on staff leaked online
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Sentencing has been set for tomorrow for a Connecticut medic convicted of sexually assaulting a female patient in his care. That is the word from the Associated Press (June 7) which said North Haven resident Mark Powell could be given nearly four years in jail for the 2011 crime. According to the newspaper, Powell attacked the drunk and unconscious woman while in the back of the ambulance. He pleaded guilty in April to a charge of second-degree sexual assault. EMS had originally been hailed to treat the 22-year-old at a party after she had fallen and hit her head. Along with jail time, a plea deal means Powell will also be placed on 10 years probation following his release from prison and must register as a sex offender.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** The South Central Ambulance Service is under investigation after its online website published personal details on past and present staff members. That is the word from the Slough Observer (June 8) which said the Information Commissioner’s Office is looking into the matter. According to the newspaper, the privacy of 3,000 employees has been breached. Detected in April, the error occurred in October of last year. Tidbits such as employee age, religion and sexuality were made public. Unite union spokesman Debbie Watson railed against the breach, questioning whether the privacy of patients had also been compromised. A service spokesman, meanwhile, said the organization was cooperating with authorities to determine how the problem occurred. The talking head also said steps have been taken to ensure the error does not happen again.
