** Officials identify Louisiana EMT killed in accident
** West Virginia law proposes hefty fines for first responders who photograph corpses
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Louisiana officials have identified the EMT killed last Wednesday when an ambulance fell on
him as Jefferson County resident Brian Shepler, 44. That is the word from The Times-Picayune
(Ben Myers/February 11) which said the Coroner’s Office has formally identified the cause of death
as resulting from the weight of the vehicle compressing his diaphragm, thereby preventing him from
inflating and deflating his lungs. Shepler and his co-worker were at a repair shop when the accident
occurred. The hydraulic lift holding the EMS unit failed, pinning Shepler under the vehicle’s side.
Police spokesman John Fortunato said he was uncertain of the distance the ambulance plummeted
or whether or not the hoist had previously been checked to ensure it was in working order.
** Politicians in West Virginia are attempting to pass a bill that would make it illegal for EMS
personnel to photograph a corpse or person receiving medical care. The Register Herald (Blake
Stowers/February 13) said House Bill 2122 is aimed at preventing such pictures from showing up
on social media. According to the newspaper, the catalyst for the bill came after news broke that an
emergency responder had forwarded snaps of a mutilated body to family members. Videos and
other representations are also covered by the potential statute. Violators of the law could be fined
between $50-500 for the first offence or 24 hours jail time, plus a $100-750 fine for a second offence.
The bill had its second reading Monday.
