paramedicmike

So on top of theft from the hospital you'll commit assault on your partner? Two outstanding qualities to have in an EMS professional. -be safe.

It depends. Many of us out here (not all, I know) work for municpal agencies. I work for a municipal EMS only organization. The station out of which I work is a public building. That means the public can, and has, shown up for a variety of reasons (e.g. tours, billing issues, even simple stuff like asking directions etc...) And that's not to say any private organization can't have people show up for the very same reasons. Try and sell my house (or car or anything else) while I'm away on vacation and you're still fired. Then, at the very least, you and the realtor will be pursued for trespassing (and I wouldn't push hard for charges against the realtor simply because he/she was probably working in good faith ). At work, regardless of the industry, there is no place for childish behaviour such as this. You want to blow off steam? Get your buddies together on your days off and go play paintball. Have a poker night. Host a pit barbeque. Continue it at work and you open yourself for a hostile work environment charge or worse. Not to mention any of the potential safety issues created by whatever prank you're attempting. Again, it comes back to if you want to be treated like professionals then act like it. Otherwise, please try not to drag the rest of us down with you. -be safe.

I honestly hope people don't find any of these funny. If it's not an out and out assault (as mentioned by Rich), it could be construed as hostile work environment/sexual harrassment and would open you and your organization up to a whole laundry list of problems. If any of my staff tried anything mentioned here they'd be terminated on the spot. I realize that, as this is a high stress job, some stress relief is important. On the job, at the station, in the truck is not the place to do it. Relieve the stress at home. You want to be considered a professional? Act as a professional because you never know who's looking. -be safe.

We've just suggested this (again) to the bosses. We'll see what happens. -be safe.

Further, there is a post office in Philadelphia (I think, that's where I was when I saw it on the news anyway) that has that same symbol (swastika with the arms reversed) inlaid in tile in the floor. They, too, traced it back to a local native symbol.

Actually, Moussaoui is a French citizen. He's not a citizen of the US. He can't have committed treason against the US as he's not a US citizen. As far as his beliefs having no place in our country... He has the same right to believe what he wants as do you. Does he have the right to kill people over it? Not any more than you do. But he can still believe it. Lastly, our troops went to fight because they were ordered to do so. I'm sure that many in the aftermath of 9/11 wanted to go. Many others, unsure of the motives, didn't want to. But they went because they ordered to do so. Sweeping generalizations don't do any of us any good. Other than that, Steve has voiced a logical, well thought and presented argument. Gonna have to stand behind and support what he said. Be safe.

Richard B and Kilted make a good point. This guy, and the others who planned and participated in the attacks want(ed) to die. Part of their goal was to kill the "infidel americans" and become martyrs in eyes of allah and their fellow muslims. If we kill him, we simply play into their sick, twisted interpretation of Islam. Why not let him die a natural death at some old age? He would die, in his eyes and the eyes of his co-conspirators, dishonored and as a failure. No, don't kill him. Throw him in jail. Tell the general population who he is and why he's there. And then let it slip that he molests little children. If there's anyone cons hate it's child molesters. Just MHO. Be safe.

I'm with the majority here. While I'll acknowledge Ridrider's mention of no scientific support to the theory, there are some things that just can't be explained by science. This is one of them. Depending on your point of view, full moons can be fun and exciting or a dreaded event. Either way, chances are it won't be dull. I like the "pulling on my lithium" comment. I may have to try that sometime. Be safe.

Indeed, merely an attempt at humor. Nothing more. And along those lines... Bravo, USAF! Very well said. I agree completely. Be safe.

Not to hijack the thread, but how's this for a twist... Osama bin Laden is stuck in the burning building. There's a ladder within reach next to a charged hose line. You only have time to do one thing. So... do you reach for your telephoto lens to record the event? Or... do you throw that five gallon can of gasoline in the window? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Be safe.

Please define "heritage". Not the dictionary definition. What's your definition? And yes, it is different from an Aussie or a Brit displaying their national flags. Theirs are independent and recognized nations (of which they would be citizens). In the example you provided, your displaying the American flag would be no different. Displaying the battle flag of a nation that no longer exists doesn't count as you were never a citizen of the CSA. Be safe.

Finally, someone has a grasp on the history! The battle flag of the confederacy represents for many the fight for State rights. Among the issues the States believe they had a right to decide upon was whether slavery should be allowed. So, in a sense, it could be argued that the display of the CSA's battle flag could represent the fight for slavery. And for many people, that's what the flag represents. However, there were more issues involved that just the issue of deciding if slavery should be legal. There were trade issues, manufacturing issues, legal issues. It's not so simple as to say it's "heritage". That's just the uninformed justifying something about which they have little or no knowledge. The decision to display this particular battle flag seems to be fairly personal. However, the biggest problem I have with it is that the CSA lost the war. The CSA is a nation that no longer exists. Before and after it's existence was the United States of America. The USA in and of itself embodies the very fight that many in the south considered important enough to fight for in the 1860s. There are liberties, rights and freedoms that the south fought for that were and are still inherent to our day to day life. If people want to display the flag of a nation that was defeated in war they are well within their rights to do so. But they're certainly saying several things about their lack of historical knowledge and where their loyalties lie. I'd argue that there little or no difference between those who wave the CSA battle flag and those who display the flag of Nazi Germany, or of the Soviet Union. The "heritage" of the vast majority of those in this country is that of the United States. It is that heritage that has us fighting in several countries abroad. If you feel compelled to display anything, try Old Glory. It says more about your heritage and your fight for rights than that of a nation defeated in battle. Be safe.

Good for you! Stand your ground and don't let another provider push you into doing something you don't feel comfortable or can't do. That is outstanding that you were able to tell that person no. And you should NOT feel like a "tard" for telling him no. You know your bounds, limits and restrictions. The fact that he doesn't seem to know makes him more the idiot. You came out of that looking better than that paramedic. As for protocols... your protocols are there for a reason. Protocols are guidelines for treatment but are not the end all and be all of patient care decisions (and my local protocols say as much). Stick to what the protocols tell you to do, but don't let them limit you. If you feel the need to operate on the edge (or just beyond) of what your protocols suggest then you need to call the doc. That is why s/he is there. Couple that with proper and thorough documentation and you'll be fine. Don't feel stupid for standing up to that guy. Feel strong and know that you did the right thing. Be safe.

So how does this affect the hospice patient's choice to stop eating or drinking? The passage you cited has no bearing on a patient's choice. A hospice patient can't be forced to eat (unless in the Terry Schiavo case where's she's a veggie and can't decide on her own in which case they're probably in a long term care facility and not necessarily under hospice care.). Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. That's right. The *PATIENT* decides to stop eating to hasten death. I have seen it before. A friend of mine had ALS. She decided that she was tired of fighting and stopped food or water. She was dead two days later. I've seen terminal cancer and AIDS patients make this decision. Hospice care has nothing to do with the decision to stop eating. EMSgirl's comments deal specifically with a hospice patient's right to chose. And she's right. Many patients who are under hospice care do decide to stop eating. It's not a comment on the care provided by hospice. It's not indicative of policies or procedures of the hospice care system. It's a personal choice by someone who is terminally ill, who has made peace with the fact that they're going to die, and who has decided that they're ready to go. Be safe.

The husband's position from day one of this was that his wife did not want to be maintained on such devices. He has not deviated from that. He has continued to insist that this is not for him but for her...carrying out her wishes. The downside to all of this is that it's become his word against the insistence of the parents. Legally, it's his decision (as it should be). Do we really want to open this can of worms that would allow anyone to declare an interest in a similar case and stop the removal of life support from someone? Do we really want/need the government meddling in these type decisions like the Florida and Federal governments have been doing? Think long and hard about that before you answer. I don't believe it's their place to do so. The lesson we should all learn from this is that we need to have this discussion with our loved ones (i.e. spouses, parents, siblings, partners). Make your wishes clear to them. THEN WRITE IT DOWN IN AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE!!!!! I don't care if you're 25 and in prime health or 99 circling the drain. Write it down and make sure that those who could be in a position to make this decision are aware of your wishes and where they can find your paperwork. Do it today! Be safe.