Arctickat

It makes us more accountable for our actions, some have had difficulty with the adjustment. Prior to this the Province was our regulatory and registration body. In that time the protocols were considered more of a "guideline" and breaches with and without medical authorisation were a pretty common event. Once the College took over, the change in policy resulted in the Protocols being an absolute black and white with punishments being handed down for breaches. Some have adjusted well, others, including me, have had some difficulties.

Absolutely Our protocols are approved by the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Saskatchewan Medical Association. In 2009 we obtained self regulation and licensure, which means that we act under our own licence, not as an extension of a Medical Director. No one, absolutely no one, can give us provisional permission to exceed our scope of practice or protocols. Anyone accused of exceeding their Scope is investigated byt the college and if warranted summoned before the professional conduct committee. The sentences to date have included fines and suspensions, never revocation. Their decisions are published online: http://www.collegeofparamedics.sk.ca/conduct/index.php

Actually, three. He disregarded the order from Medical Control to transport immediately Which would be a suspension of his licence until conditions of his sentence are met. Not a permanent revocation. Not here. The precedent has been set by our College for that exact scenario. Fine, Suspension, Counselling, Mandatory drug testing, and Rehabilitation have been the decisions handed down. Is there a written policy from the state that identifies this? Something worded like "Any contravention of these protocols will result in revocation of a practitioner's licence." If there is then everyone in Vermont had better watch out. So, by your own logic, because you functioned beyond your scope you should have your licence permanently revoked.

I was too busy gawking at the hot wife in her skimpy robe and lingerie...she really should have put on her bulky USMC? sweats and sweatshirt. She had enough time to do that whilst waiting for us to arrive. Sigh...sometimes I just with I had a head cam.

A convicted murderer can be released from prison after serving his sentence and is considered rehabilitated (in most states). If he can get a second chance in society then why shouldn't this medic? Suspend him, retrain him, educate him, just because it was beyond his scope should not be a "death sentence". Even Scratrat admits to "bending the rules". If functioning beyond one's scope is a loss of licence event, then Vermont would likely lose most of its medics. This was a blatant and extreme case with plenty of witnesses, but according to some, beyond the scope is beyond the scope and the punishment should be the same...so if you give 15mg of morphine to a 300lb guy in pain when your protocols state your maximum allowed cumulative dose is 10mg, you'd better be prepared to lose your cert and never work EMS again. I'll bet there was a second half to what the medic said. "I'm probably going to lose my licence for this," "but the love I have for my friend and her family trumps that." Like a mentioned in my first post. For such a heavy handed reaction from the state he must have been disciplined before.

I'm not saying this is what happened, but I'm gonna throw this out there. The medic was partnered with the patient's sister. As is most cases, partners become close friends, confidants, and have intimate knowledge of one another's lives. As far as adult relationships go, many partnerships come second only to the marriage. No doubt she knew exactly his skill set and what he could do. So, when his best friend and partner realised that he could and has performed the skills that could save her brother's life the distraught EMT begged and pleaded her best friend to do everything possible to try to save her brother. Being her best friend, he was incapable of separating his emotions from his professionalism. I have no doubt that this was a highly charged emotional scene and mistakes get made when emotions are involved, Just think of what it's like when we transport pediatrics, This call would have been much more stressful. Did he make a stupid mistake and a poor judgement call? Hell yeah, but if you haven't been on a call where you've had your emotions override your professionalism yet, it's just a matter of time.

My experience as a shooting target isn't nearly so exciting as yours. We were called to a residence for chest pain and as we pulled up, in a low roof ambulance with a light bar on top, a figure stepped out of the doorway onto the porch and levelled a shotgun at us. We had just enough time to duck before our light bar essentially disintegrated. Then we hear this guy yell at us, "Sorry boys!! I thought you were the cops! Come on in!!" We backed out of the driveway to the road and waited for him to reload prior to the arrival of police.

You're not wrong fab, in fact, IIRC, there are no valves superior to the heart because there is no risk of backflow as there is in the limbs. Scratrat confused me there for a bit with his post. I just remembered that little tidbit this morning.

That was sarcasm. Although, I actually would continue to enter being hyper vigilant of the scene. Then again, I don't deal with a lot of military vets with PTSD around here either. I've been in scenes before that had guns involved...only been shot at once.

cowards

Having the training and experience is highly relevant and also makes a substantial difference in what laws, if any, were actually broken. Practising beyond your scope when you have the educational background to know what you're doing compared to seeing it on TV once. It's the difference between stupidity and incompetence. I don't disagree that he lost his licence, nor do I agree that he should have. I don't know all the facts surrounding this case or the history of this medic. All I can say is that up here, given the historical decisions by our Professional Conduct Committee, for a first offence such as this he would likely have received a fine, suspension, and remedial education for exceeding his scope. That said, our PCC has never had to determine if the provider caused the death of a patient yet either. I also agree with you, if he had to say it then he should have known better....it sounds like a statement that someone with a hero complex would make. "Screw my career!!! It's not worth letting this man die for!!!" Then beg for forgiveness once you heroically save his life....unfortunately he didn't and now he's slinging burgers.

DFIB, this must have been an extremely interesting call, but ya gotta slow down...I know you're eager to enlighten everyone but give others a day or two to chime in.

Did any of them?

My question was for medicgirl...I don't participate in these online scenarios. I don't have the ability to visualise them well.

How do you clear the scene because I have a worst case scenario going thru my head right now. A handicapped Iraq war veteran who is suffering from PTSD and depression. Pissed off at his govt. for abandoning him after he's down, getting inadequate health care and followup. Probably pissed off at the army medic who had to do a field amputation of his legs. Right now he is sitting in a wheelchair with a high powered rifle...or a shotgun pointed at the door just waiting for the first knock to pull the trigger. Edit: Oh...and boobytraps, lots of boobytraps.

Admittedly, our registration body here has never been faced with something as dramatic as this, however, in the past it has handed down suspensions, but never a revocation. Which I admit surprises me. He many have been functioning outside of the Vermont Scope, but he was not functioning beyond his training. Sending a medic to get the physician when you're that close to the hospital is kinda stupid though. I see many years of a wrongful death suit ahead for this poor fella.

Send the EMT-B to barge into the house without knocking while you wait for the dog to show itself so you can shoot it.

Did this work for you Dwayne?

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/news/ci_21648505/medic-loses-license-over-fatal-crash BENNINGTON -- A Bennington Rescue Squad paramedic has had his license renewal rejected by the state for actions he took during a fatal motorcycle crash. Gillvray Hall, a paramedic who serves as operations manager for the squad, knowingly performed a procedure prohibited by the state and was slow in transporting the motorcyclist to the local hospital, according to Vermont Emergency Medical Services, part of the Vermont Department of Health. This seems a bit excessive to me. There must have been additional unmentioned historical issues with this medic for the State to act in such a heavy handed manner. Up here for a first offence like this he'd likely end up with a fine and a requirement for remedial education. Then again, it is rather unique because the story makes it sound like the medic's ego was the cause of death.

I took the Bachelor in Health Sciences at the University of Phoenix online. It didn't really have any effect on my career though. I'm already at upper management. I just wanted more letters after my name.

My thought was that without muscular control following death the vessels would dilate leaving the valves ineffective, but the arteries would function similarly since there is no blood flow, so he was half right. The carotids could be "kinked" as well as the Jugs.

Hmm, perhaps you have a point there.

Usually, when I get a discount it has a corresponding increase in the gratuity.