** South African medic accuses hospital of unnecessarily delaying drowning victim’s treatment
** UK man sentenced to one year behind bars for sexually assaulting female medic
SOUTH AFRICA NEWS
** A Durban paramedic has publicly derided King Edward Hospital staff after a secondary drowning victim died while the facility’s employees debated which ward should treat him. That is the word from SA Breaking News (Jamie-Leigh Matroos/June 9) which quoted Rescue Care practitioner Garrith Jamieson as saying the discussions took place over a 45 minute period of time. According to the newspaper, staff were waffling between sending the patient to either trauma doctors or those on the medical emergency ward. Designated for the latter, the patient’s care was further delayed when physicians there said they had no ventilator and that the man should be taken to an alternate hospital altogether. Jamieson said when he refused, he was accused of being racist. The patient died shortly afterwards. He said he has forwarded a complaint letter to the health department detailing the incident.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** A Kings Lynn man has been sentenced to one year in jail after being convicted of sexually assaulting a female medic sent to help him. The Lynn News (June 9) said Jan Golesz, 52, was given the sentence last Tuesday. Golesz, who denied any culpability, apparently made his attack last November 30th. According to the newspaper, EMS was hailed to an area bar for an ill man. Once inside the ambulance, Golesz set upon the woman while the unit was en route to hospital. Service spokesman Carl Smith said the unnamed practitioner remains shaken up by the incident. He also said he hopes Golesz’ conviction might serve as a deterrent to others contemplating such crimes.
