** Massachusetts medic charged with sexually assaulting female patient
** Missouri medic’s drug theft trial set for end of February
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Massachusetts paramedic from Webster has been fired after being charged with sexually assaulting a female patient. The Telegram (Brian Lee/December 12) said Jovannie A. Morales, 34, has been charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older. According to the newspaper, Morales allegedly committed the crimes while the patient was in the ambulance en route to hospital on November 20th. Along with hugging her and attempting to kiss her, Morales is also accused of placing his hand underneath the woman’s clothing to touch her breasts. He also attempted to place her hand on his groin several times. A pre-trial hearing in the matter has been set for January 20th. Morales remains free after posting a $300 bail.
** A preliminary hearing for a St. Lawton, Missouri medic accused of stealing patients’ morphine was held Tuesday. The Herald Palladium (Julie Swidwa/December 14) said Tamara Ausland, 46, has been charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and possession of narcotics. If convicted of the felonies, she could receive four years on each of the two counts. She has also been tagged with adulterating or misbranding a drug or medicine. Conviction penalties on the latter felony involve two years imprisonment. Ausland, who worked for Medic 1, stands accused of removing morphine from drug vials and replacing it with saline. Trial has been set for February 23rd to 24th. She is the second Medic 1 employee in two years to be nabbed on drug infractions. Last year fellow practitioner Jason Russell got 30 days in jail after being convicted of stealing morphine from ambulances.
