Re: Jail - Take Two

[Guest guest]

" People sue paramedics over AMA/Refusal, not for transporting "

Disagree, people sue paramedics when a lawyer says that have a case, cause a

phlebitis and chances are your getting sued keep in mind there is a difference

between suing and winning. Other than that you are correct that does happen with

LE from time to time, however, as good paramedics we inform the officer that

refusing for the patient makes them responsible if the pt. Has a poor outcome

that tends to change minds quickly as many cops don't have much medical training

just like we don't have much legal training. I think a bigger problem lies,

when the officer " insists " that a pt. go with EMS to the ED or they will be

arrested, is that coercion? HCSO (I'll let you figure that agency name out on

your own) is notorious for this so they can get out of driving downtown and

filling out paperwork. I don't know how many times I have heard for an officer

" y'all just take them and I'll file a warrant " or " DA won't accept charges so I

can't arrest him but if y'all take him I can file later. " That in my opinion is

abuse of EMS, and hurts system status, but, like you said they have the gun so

telling them no is hard to do!!

-Chris

Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on the tiny keyboard on my

iPhone

>

> I'm sorry I wasn't clear.

>

> This isn't a clinical issue, this is a legal issue. How do we, EMS, play nicer

with the police, legally.

> - I was always told, the man with the gun, makes the rules.

> - The best way of avoiding a lawsuit, is to transport the patient.

> - People sue paramedics over AMA/Refusal, not for transporting.

>

> What options/protection do we have.

>

>

> First

> If you have a patient in police custody, and they complain of chest pain. Your

complete evaluation is within normal limits for this patient. However, being the

responsible paramedic that we all are, we want to transport this, and get a

physician to do an evaluation, and PD says " Nope, they are staying with us. " I

was always told, the man with the gun, makes the rules. Besides involving

medical control, what options does the medic have, and where does the liability

lie?

>

> Second

> If you have another patient in police custody, and they complain of high blood

pressure.You complete your evaluation and find the patient blood pressure is

120/80, the rest of your evaluation is within normal limits for this patient.

However, being the responsible paramedic that we all are, we want to transport

this, and get a physician to do an evaluation, and PD says " Nope, they are

staying with us. "

>

> Thanks,

>

> JW

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