Thursday, October 25, 2007

** Private 9/11 medics to get compensation

** UK man sues over ambulance crash

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Some six years after the World Trade Centers fell, EMS workers then employed with private voluntary hospitals will now get worker’s compensation benefits. Newsday (Melissa Mansfield/October 24) said that is the result of legislation passed Tuesday in the state Assembly. According to the article, the bill held unanimous support from both levels of government. Sponsored by Rochester Democrat Susan John, the legislation impacts approximately nine paramedics.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

**  A May 2003 ambulance/car crash, in which a man was grievously injured, has resulted in the former suing the National Health Service. The BBC (October 24) said Cornish resident James Greenaway, 32, broke his hip and irreparably damaged a kidney when his vehicle collided with the EMS rig. He is seeking 500,000 pounds in damages. Claiming the life of his brother Alex, 21, the accident played out with the ambulance on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash. Medic Graham Dudman, a 27 year EMS veteran, was tagged for careless driving. He is now retired. A West Country Ambulance spokesman said they hoped to resolve the matter in a timely manner.