EMTs: Fake Certification Punishment Unfair

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BOSTON -- Beginning July 1, more than 200 emergency medical

technicians will not be making emergency calls. They've been suspended

for anywhere from 45 days to nine months for falsely claiming they

took certification refresher courses.

The state said it came down hard to send a message and protect public

safety, but two EMTs said the move is unfair and dangerous.

Kim is a state emergency technician. She's been suspended for nine

months for allegedly falsifying certification class attendance. She

says if she broke the law, she should be punished.

" But a nine-month suspension? I've lost my job and my health

insurance. I don't now what I am going to do, " said Kim.

She said the harsh punishment of EMTs is unfair, especially because

she believes the refresher courses they're required to take have no

bearing on competence and knowledge.

" The refresher course just repeats everything. We didn't put you at

harm, " Kim said.

Terry Urekew is a part-time paramedic who was not on the penalty list,

but she believes the state has done an injustice to her colleagues.

" So if it's fraud, slap them. Give everyone a $100 fine and community

service, " said Urekew. " Don't take someone's livelihood away from

something that has no impact on whether or not we are better EMTs, "

she said.

Urekew said the state never gave the EMTs a chance to tell their side

of the story. But the Department of Health commissioner said they have

the legal right to appeal their case and believes their punishment

fits the crime.

" I hope the strong stance we've taken will send a message to those who

might be considering disobeying the rules of their profession that

it's important to be in compliance, " said commissioner Auerbach.

" EMTs and paramedics and docs and dentists who take training seriously

are eager to defend training as a way to assure that the public gets

the very best care, " he said.

But Kim and Urekew said the real public safety concern starts on July

1 when fewer EMTs are available.

" You are forcing the remaining EMTs to work longer hours, and people

just taken out of EMT classes are on the road quicker without proper

training, " said Kim.

" Do you want me working on your mother who is having a heart attack in

hour 87 of my 90 hour week? " said Urekew. " Do you want that? That's

what you are going to get. There are not enough people to fill the

gaps, " she said.

Auerbach disagreed.

" We have no evidence that public safety is at risk because of the

suspension of 211 EMTs. There are 23,000 EMT's in the state, " said

Auerbach. " We haven't received a single call from anyone expressing

the slightest bit of concern about having sufficient EMTs and

paramedics, " he said.

The EMTs said they were also frustrated that many of the penalized

workers still had other jobs, including the firefighters. But many

other EMTs won't have any income beginning Thursday.