Diagnosis of Death Remains Elusive in EMS

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Baltimore EMTs 'Reassigned' After Mistakenly Declaring Man Dead

Monday , August 03, 2009

Baltimore police say a burglary suspect laid on the floor of a convenience

store for about a half-hour with a gunshot wound to the head before officers

noticed he was still alive.

Police spokesman Guglielmi says 51-year-old Quarles was shot

by an officer after he lunged at the officer with a long screwdriver early

Saturday. The officer initially thought Quarles was wielding a knife.

Guglielmi says emergency medical technicians responded to the scene and

pronounced Quarles dead, then left. About 30 minutes later, he says the

officers noticed Quarles moving. The EMTs were recalled to the scene, and

Quarles was taken to a trauma center. He remained in critical condition on

Monday.

The city's fire department is investigating the EMTs, who have been

temporarily reassigned.