Thursday, July 5, 2007
** Florida paramedic wins defamation case against medical director
** HSAS paramedics’ union in Saskatchewan heads back to conciliation
** UK ambulance crew victims of hoax bomb threat
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Lake Worth, Florida paramedic is waxing victorious, after a jury found his medical director guilty of defaming him. The Palm Beach Post (Jane Musgrave/July 3) said Ted Young was awarded $692,000 in a case in which Dr. Jeffrey Davis accused Young of fraudulent billing. Court heard that Davis’ allegations to Florida BTLS in 2000 resulted in Young’s company, Professional Medical Education Inc., losing over $100,000 in contracts and, for a time, its certification. Davis also actively worked to aid Young’s competitiors in securing EMS training contracts.
CANADA NEWS
** The union representing Saskatchewan’s HSAS paramedics is apparently going back to the negotiation table. That, at least, is the word from the CBC (July 4) which said Premier Lorne Calvert has decided to bring a second conciliator onboard. Calvert, who made the announcement Tuesday afternoon, said talks will occurr on both Friday and Saturday. Both sides have agreed to keep the number of active strikers down to 27 during the discussion process. Along with paramedics, HSAS represents, therapists, social workers, psychologists, hospital pharmacists and dietitians in 12 different health regions. The main issue in the dispute is wages.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** An Eastbourne hospital emergency department narrowly missed being evacuated Saturday, after a threatening note was left inside an ambulance. The Eastbourne Herald (Claire Watson/July 4) said the 10 a.m. incident, which occurred on the heels of three aborted terrorist attacks elsewhere in the country, played out with medics believing a bomb might have been placed in their unit. Hailing police, the practitioners’ fears were alleviated shortly after when the vehicle was inspected and given the all clear. Police continue to investigate.
