Wednesday, October 24, 2007
** Former New Jersey EMT convicted of manslaughter
** Ottawa hospital specialist denounces hiring of new medics
** South African medic dies in crash
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A former New Jersey EMT won’t be raising her glass anytime soon, now that she’s been convicted of spiking her brother-in-law’s drink with antifreeze. The Post Chronicle (October 24) said Maryann Neabor has been tagged with 20 years in prison for the aggravated manslaughter death of Jonathan Neabor. According to the newspaper, Maryann watched Jonathan die after placing the chemical in a fruit smoothie. Neabor, who confessed to the crime, said she was only trying to sicken her relative, not kill him.
CANADA NEWS
** The Ottawa leader of a government body overseeing area hospitals has said hiring more medics is not the solution to ER crunches. CBC Ottawa (October 23) quoted Champlain Local Health Integration Network head Dr. Robert Cushman as saying a better tact would be to improve seniors care. Calling the elderly the largest per capita consumers of both EMS and ER services, Cushman said increasing paramedic staff is far too expensive for the return it gives. Cushman’s comments come after the city council announced it may hire 38 more EMS workers to ease pressure on emergency rooms.
SOUTH AFRICA NEWS
** A Durban paramedic is dead, after the unit he was travelling in struck a cow. News 24 (October 23) said the Tuesday incident occurred around 2 a.m. near Ixopo. A patient also died in the mishap. The driver of the ambulance, meanwhile, remains in hospital in serious condition. No names have been released.
