DwayneEMTP

http://www.wyff4.com/news/18153973/detail.html SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Police say that a girl told them she was molested by a Spartanburg man nine years ago, and now they are looking for other possible victims. Officers arrested 36-year-old Shawn Daily on Wednesday. He is charged with committing or attempting a lewd act on a child under 16. Daily has been a paramedic with Spartanburg Emergency Medical for at least 12 years, but investigators said that the alleged molestation had nothing to do with his position. Investigators said that Daily fondled the 6-year-old child between Sept. 1, 1999 and Sept. 1, 2000. Deputies said that Daily was an acquaintance of the girl's family. The alleged incident was reported about four years ago, and the investigation as continued since.c Deputies said it took years for the child to be able to report the abuse due to her emotional state. Master Deputy Tony Ivey said, "Because of the young age of the victim and the trauma that happened at the time, they've been going through some counseling and therapy. Through that, some more of the specifics of the incidents have been able to come to light and we've been able to get those and take those before a judge and able to get a warrant." Investigators said that they are asking for the public's help to learn if there could be other victims. Daily is not working as a paramedic pending the outcome of the charges. He is not suspended and is considered to be an employee, but he is not being paid. Spartanburg EMS said they have never received any complaints about Daily. Anyone with information is asked to call Nicki Cantrell at 864-503-4604 For me? A bunch of crap! We should have investigated the chargers when she was a child, but to investigate him after not only the passage of nine years, but the passage of those years under the care of a counselor who have shown in the past to often be motivated to create victims? Outragous. How can he possibly man a defense against such charges? And their call for addl victims? Pretty fair huh? How many of the hoards of victims that are likely to come forward to you think will have actually met him at some time as opposed to simply be using this to jump on the lawsuit bandwagon. Though I would submit that it makes no difference is he's guilty or not any more. They have branded him a sexual deviant so life as he has previously known it has ceased to exist. Craziness..... Dwayne

I guess I wasn't very clear, but these aren't medics we're talking about, at least I don't think they are for the most part, not sure how to differentiate in the hospital. For the most part I believe I am refering to Dr.s and nurses. But again, if medics are commonly used in a like capacity as nurses in the Canadian military I could be mistaken. Dwayne

Ive got a serious question, and I absolutely see the humor in the story, and those that know me will understand that this does not come from being offended by it. I've been to Canada fishing many times. Loved the country, the towns and the cities, and very much most of the people I've met there, and here as well. I found them to be kind and funny and intelligent. My experience with Canadians in the Afghanistan medical community has been very different though. I'm almost daily disgusted by the treatment and disrespect I see the Canadians give the Afghanistan locals. They laugh at them, point and say insulting things to and at them. Once when I questioned pain control before transporting a pt with two traumatic amputations secondary to an IED explosion I was told, "If he wants adequate pain control then perhaps he should produce an insurance card, shouldn't he?" (Heee Heee Heee went the staff) I'm always very aware of the fact that we are tasked with caring for the military primarily, but when resources are available we are also tasked with caring for a people that have driven several mechanized militaries out of their country in their sandals. Is the Canadian idea of compassionate patient care and management different than what we've come to expect in the States? Is healthcare in general viewed differently? Is there perhaps a different mindset in the military that in private medicine? Have I simply stumbled upon a bunch of bad eggs? I've also had extensive contact with the U.S. Air Force hospital where dealing with locals is concerned, and not one of the comments I've heard here would have been tolerated there, where locals are treated with dignity the same as anyone else. The near constant derision and poor level of care...I can't imagine. Of course this is a generalization. I have seen inspiring care givers at the Canadian hospital, but, in my limited experience there, they are rare. I certainly see the possibility of this creating a shit storm here. But I'll ask that you approach these questions with the understanding that I ask them sincerely, and have attempted to do so with respect, with the understanding that perhaps there is a cultural "something" that I just don't get. Thanks for your time.... Dwayne

Then you and I are on the same page if I understand you correctly. Leave her be, let her mourn, give her the help and support she needs to care for herself and any remaining children. For once in our God forsaken lives let's attempt to help a damaged person improve their state instead of nourishing our animal instincts with punishment. And Cynical? Be careful girl, your soul is showing.... Dwayne

EDIT: Holy crap! I got a call between creating this post and hiting the submit button and half the friggin City posted! Sorry for the redundancy. This would depend on quite a few factors for me. Why was she taking the medication? Did she have a history of it, or did she get caught off guard by their effects? Did she have available help for the child, or was she in a damaged condition trying to care for them both? What I do know, is that if this hit the news, there was a ton of pressure for the DA to bring charges. If they failed to do so there was most likely nothing there. And if there was something there, how do you punish someone worse than having a dead child? Unless she purposely chose to kill her child, what is to be gained by prosecution? (persecution?) Sometimes and accident it just an accident. Dwayne

Again, notice the bold, "suggested." I've not cajoled, bullied, threatened, tricked, etc...But if I remember the original story correctly, the police and EMS were arguing over who was responsible for the "drunk" and EMS lost...and was not happy about it. Not a matter of anything you suggested above. I just felt compelled to respond before every do-gooder on the City had a chance to scream their indignance at your honesty. Dwayne

As to cracked, chafed, sore nipples. There are ways to prepare for that before lactation begins, and this is the best of both worlds for men! You get full credit for being a compassionate part of the child bearing process, while playing some awsome nipple games!! How can that be wrong? And as to feeling obligated to use your biological equipment because you were born with it. I mean, c'mon. Men step up to the plate (so to speak) to fulfill our biological obligations at every opportunity, it's only reasonable that women should do the same! But being serious. Babs was nervous about breast feeing before Dylan was born, but it was important to me. We agreed that we'd do all of the prep stuff we'd read about to help prepare her, though my participation is assumed in our relationship so did not need to be agreed upon. And decided that if after giving it an honest attempt that she would pump if possible and use formula if not. I also had concerns about her breast feeding if it caused her significant pain. (Yeah, here I get wierd again) I worried that there would be subtle messages sent to the baby if mom was in pain each time they bonded in this way. I was afraid that it would cause damage to that bonding. Not sure, have never heard it addressed, but still. So it worked out for us. I think she should have felt obligated to attempt it, and she did feel so. If it had been significantly traumatic for her, we would have both been on the same page and made different plans. All worked out fine, with her having some significant dicomfort on milk letdown for one or two seconds but then comfort. On the flip side though, had she been able to do so, but chosen not to for reasons other than discussed...I would have been way pissed. He was already jinxed with me for a father, he needed every other benefit possible. Choosing to cheat him out of the proven benefits of breast milk nutrition for some shallow, or silly reason would have been an issue. (Though babs is sometimes beautifully silly, she's never shallow, so again, a non issue.) Just sayin'.... Dwayne

A couple of things, though I can't at the moment give Cynical the reply I believe her honest reply deserves. One thing I misunderstood was that she considers herself, and is considered in her system, (if I understand correctly) an "ambulance driver" and has no real affect on pt's or pt care. If that is the case then I think it's very possible that I've been talking out my ass. If the opinion she gives is her opinion of the care that medics 'should' or are giving, then perhaps she's entitled to have whatever opinion she wishes to have. I don't know....I'm going to have to think on that. Also, is compassion necessary to do a healthcare job? Again, I don't know. I'm sure we've all heard the stories, and might have even met people such as "house" that would perhaps cease to function effectively with compassion clouding their judgement. In fact, I can honestly say that in the begining of a traumatic call that I have very little, if any compassion. I have only a picture of signs, affected anatomy and my thoughts on how that effects physiology in my head, very little, if anything, in my heart. Those things come, for me, later. If I can do decent medicine when things are hinky without compassion, is it possible others can do good medicine throughout patient contact without compassion? Again, I have to wait until I've had a chance to think about it before commenting further. My question is this to all. Witholding you personal feelings about Cynical's previous comments, would you feel the same professionally if she is simply tasked with helping to carry equipment, load the cot, and drive? Dwayne

Cynical, I’ll give you my opinion as well. Though you may see it as bashing, I’ll ask you to believe that it’s simply blunt and honest, as I have limited ability to wrap things in velvet and still maintain a half way rational train of thought. It is not my intention of appear to be superior to you, or pretend that I know anything at all, but simply to try and give you an honest opinion of the way you’ve shown yourself to me so that you can use that in whatever way you find most productive, or not at all if you choose. I will ask that you believe that there is no anger or insult intended by my silly opinions. I’m hoping you can take this in the spirit intended. You’re previous posts, which of course is all that I have to go on as I’m not pretending to know you, make you appear immature (The way you choose to spell) in some ways, and lost, I believe in others. I do believe your posts show the very worst attitude to be found in EMS. The belief that you have the ability to decide who deserves compassion and who does not, is not only terribly arrogant, but the thinking behind it is very damaged when compared with those that choose to do good medicine. Are there times that you need to speak differently to different patients? Sure. I’ve told a patient that it’s time to “Man the **** up and stop acting like a little girl.” Not because I believed that he was acting like a little girl, but because I needed him to become calm, as the anxiety from his trauma was causing him to create problems for himself. I believe that was compassionate. He was able to calm himself, control his breathing, answer my questions, relax some of the affected muscles that were increasing his pain, etc, until I was able to get pain control on board. Did he deserve to be hollered at and somewhat insulted? I believe so, but not because he fell below my compassion threshold by acting a baby, but because that was the best tool I believed I had at that moment to bring him mental and physical relief. You and I are different in the fact that I don’t believe that I’ve ever carried a healthy person in my ambulance. Do I wish some would have chosen a different route to the hospital? Sure…hundreds of times. But they didn’t, and where you feel qualified to punish patients for abuse of the system, I only feel comfortable doing medicine to the best of my extremely limited ability. The abdominal pain I’ve carried over and over and over without a diagnosis. Do I believe that he’s having terrible abdominal pain every night that the Dr.s just can’t find? It’s possible, but came to believe that it wasn’t a fact. But he was up at 3:00 am most mornings, and he was in some type of distress. Why wasn’t he sleeping? Why wasn’t he working? Why did he prefer the ambulance and the hospital, where he was often treated in a manner you might find appropriate, to his own warm bed? Shouldn’t those be part of the information you want when developing a plan for his care? I mean, nothing else has worked, right? Alcoholism, depression, pseudo-suicide attempts, homelessness, drug use, all are symptoms. The issue I see here is that you feel qualified to put ‘Pathologic inferior intestinal fortitude’ at the top of your list of differentials, when you bother to develop such as list, which as a professional you are morally and ethically obligated to do. You are obligated to add those symptoms to your differential toolbox, but you’ve come to the conclusion that those symptoms are beneath you as a provider. That you shouldn’t need to be bothered with such silliness. That is a terribly easy place to go in your head, but incredibly hard place to escape from once you’ve arrived. Many, if not most, if you could peek into their private brains, live there. They have matured to a point where they understand that to be respected as a professional that you must hide it and mime horror at the mere thought, but I see the symptoms in them as well. Do I treat every pt seriously and compassionately because I’m a better, more important person than you? Not at all. If you live a long and healthy life it’s unlikely you’ll meet anyone less important than me, nor anyone that has to struggle to stay competent at a mediocre level. But this is how I roll, and what helps me sleep at night. I’ve been tasked, as a medic and care provider, to increase the situation of those put in my care. Sometimes I can do that by large bites, but most often by small nibbles. When I pick up the patient that I truly believe did not need an ambulance, each time, I make a decision. I can give them a piece of my mind, which from my experience after living a few days on this planet has not been known to move mountains, or change minds, or I can assess them, using all of the signs and symptoms at my disposal to create a competent differential diagnosis, (Which most often in these cases will have “I don’t know” at the top of the list.) I make the decision this way. I can do what immediately satisfies and makes me feel smart, or I can protect the integrity of my paramedic soul. I can haul them a hundred times, love them, treat them with dignity and respect and attempt to find the ‘zebra’ that might have sneaked into their herd of horses this time. Or I can be selfish and self-righteous and move forward with the ignorant, arrogant believe that if I just give them a tongue lashing laced with plenty of my amazing knowledge and wonderfulness, they will not call tomorrow night. How has the latter worked for you in the past? Yeah, my record sucks too. Should I choose that latter, on even a single patient, how do I come back from that? How do I then stand amongst the incredible healthcare providers I’ve known and someday consider them my peers? I can continue to wear my patches and speak of the amazing things I’ve done, but inside I’ll always know that I’m a faker. That when I got tired, and disgusted, and frustrated by frequent fliers, that I bailed on medicine and became just another run of the mill shitty medic. That’s just too high a price for me to pay today. Maybe tomorrow I'll find some bullshit excuse that allows me to take the easy way out and still sleep at night, but, knock on wood, that doesn't work for me today. Good luck to you girl. I hope you find your way…. Dwayne

Shoot, I've just only finished licking my wounds from our last go-round, but I think I'm back in fighting prime. Just give me a minute to stretch a bit....I'm not as young as I used to be. :wink: I believe your plan is excellent, but only if we're able to go back a hundred years. We are certainly biologically programmed to follow reinforcers, and as children are normally unable to sit still for long, or able to allow their brains to relax very often, then allowing them to find their way was an outstanding idea. It led to adventure, exploration, exercise, both alone, but most often with others. Those things had to happen if children were to follow their biological programming. The difference today is that for many, perhaps most, kids, that is not where mental stimulation, which most children find very reinforcing, or exploration and adventure come from. Today’s reinforcers can perhaps be considered pathologic to normal development, thought time will have to tell. Today video games are much more stimulating than soccer, much more engaging than one's parents. To get bragging rights, you now need to pass the highest level, or be amongst the first to see the latest shock video on Youtube instead of run the fastest or catch the biggest snake. I'm not sure how we could create an environment in the physical world that can compete with those now. On a temporary basis, sure, but not for extended, healthy development. I believe there is a reason we can't go back to the 'good ol' days', and that is because life has gotten too complex. The reinforcers of yesterday no longer apply in the electronic age. One of the many reasons I get so frustrated at the mention of "All this feelgood silliness." The ignorant, in my opinion, want to go back to the way things were. For us to do that, ALL things must go back to the way they were, not just our treatment of children. Back in the "good ol' days" children “knew their place.” But so did women and "coloreds". Not so good right? Have we swung the pendulum too far in this new, touchy/feely direction? I believe we absolutely have. But we MUST. We need to know what exists on that side of the spectrum. There is no way to develop a happy medium when you only have access to a single side of the equation. I believe your logic is good Michael, and you'll be happy to know that your thoughts were B.F. Skinners pipe dream for the world. But I believe your thoughts have surpassed their expiration date. They are spoiled now, turned to curdle from the terawatts of electrical information that flows through the young minds of our children every day. Is that terrible? It can be, if we choose to believe that it's simply spoiled milk and throw it out instead of adding some intelligent ingredients to make it cheese. Thanks for your thoughts... Dwayne

Yeah, pretty disappointing article that goes back to teaching pseudoscience as actual scientific data. The main issue I have with it all, though I have many, is that it doesn't address the behavior issues associated with their findings. The 'when' and 'how' of the things they said are almost certainly much more important than the 'what'. "Dweck had suspected that praise could backfire, but even she was surprised by the magnitude of the effect. “Emphasizing effort gives a child a variable that they can control,” she explains." This comment leads me to believe that Dweck is unable even to define the definition of a variable, which causes her entire little shindig to come into question for me. Praise, first of all, is not a 'thing', nor is ‘effort’, therefore can not be considered a specific variable, particularly when it's being applied by many people to the same child without a solid scientific control for it's application. The praise she speaks of has a timing element, there is the tone of voice, the body language of the presenter, how the applied 'praise' is actually considered reinforcing or not to the individual, etc. Yet they see only the type and number of words used as being important. Praise and punishment work on behaviors, with the behaviors of 'effort' often being very evident, if incredibly varied. The problem they failed to address, though it is common knowledge in psychology circles, is that praising effort over accomplishment is well proved to be destructive in the long term to children. Praise and punishment work when applied directly to a specific behavior, at specific times. When does effort begin? When are you done? When have you succeeded at producing the proper amount of effort? Are some types of 'effort' better than others? Reinforcing 'effort' over success has shown over and over to produce angry, frustrated, disheartened children, that often become the same type of adults, as their compass for recognizing and applying rational reinforcers has been tweaked off of true. "...she flatly wasn’t interested in brief tests without long-term follow-up...." As she should be. it sounds to me as though she saw this "study" as the bullshit that it is. To draw the sweeping conclusions from this polluted data, as they have, shows that they began with an agenda, and carefully set out to fulfill it. Behavioral psychology is very clear on the damage that false praise causes. Telling your child that they are smart without attaching it to a success is certainly a poor plan. Praise, if done properly, is a reinforcer. Reiforcers that are not used logically, and at appropriate times are lies. Even small children understand you aren't worth listening to if you're unwilling to tell the truth. This 'study' is almost all holes and very little substance. The fact that they failed to address, at least in the article, any aspect of the behavioral quantities obviously associated with such a study, and should be well known by any serious psychological researcher, tells me that they intended, and it appears succeeded, to be dishonest from the beginning, in the hopes that their nonsense would translate into pseudosense and be well digested when dispersed. Shame on them. And the attached abridged version? Ridiculous. The Dr. speaks of self esteem, and personal responsibility, as something given to children as opposed to something that is developed over time via a complex stew of successes and failures. To call the attempts at modern education theory, though obviously flawed and in it's infancy, "A bunch of feelgood nonesense" once again makes it impossible for me to take his opinion seriously. Though both do fit nicely with the original topic of this thread. Dwayne

Rosenbaum EMT Reinstated "WUSA has the scoop that Selena Walker, the EMT who drove New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum to the hospital, is going to be retrained and subsequently reinstated to the D.C. Fire & EMS Department. Walker was fired after she and her partner mistook Rosenbaum's symptoms for drunkeness instead of head trauma, and then decided to take him to Howard University Hospital instead of the closer Sibley Hospital so that Walker could make a stop at her own home. An inspector general's report also concluded Walker got lost driving the ambulance to Howard. Walker won an appeal of her termination on the grounds that the department waited longer than 90 days to fire her after the incident. Rosenbaum eventually died of his head injuries." http://dcist.com/2008/11/21/rosenbaum_emt_reinstated.php Thoughts?

Good for you girl! Time to breath for a bit now, go and have some fun!! I know it was hard work, the rest of the decisions will wait a few days.... Dwayne

I wonder too how much of the gender bias is geography based? When I worked in the Springs (CO) I doubt many would argue if you said that the majority of the strongest medics were women. And of course I don't mean in physical terms. I think that often women hurt themselves in this area though. In Afghanistan it's terribly hard to make it as a medic if you're a woman. And we could use a bunch of good female medics here. Why? Because from a political point of view it’s too dangerous to work with them. There are too many examples of women playing the sexual harassment card when it's not justified. And the larger employers here, as they have to bid on future contracts, don't dare have that attached to their name when bidding time comes. And not only are women rarely held accountable for false claims, as it's political suicide to dare question any such claims, but those accused are not allowed to defend themselves, for the very same reason. I abhor judging anyone on anything besides their individual merits, and would not allow that to happen in my presence if I had the power to change it, but..having a family to feed, I will also do the best I'm can not to be alone with a female medic in this country unless I know her very, very well. And before you have to ask, I now work with a female nurse, who also happens to be my superior. Do I have issues with her? None at all. But those I trust have known her before, and I’ve come to know her well myself and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with, and learn from her. Would I have hired her, sight unseen, if it was my responsibility to do so? Very little chance that I would have if there was a qualified male applicant. It’s simply to big a risk and possible disruption to our mission here. That's unfair, I know, but I'm thinking that many here know that it's not an issue of my making. It's a female issue that has put me at risk. I see these types of issues as a giant pendulum. We've treated women like property, which is obviously wrong. Now as we try to make adjustments, the pendulum swings far to the other hemisphere, where women are right, and must be protected at all cost, and those that victimize as well as those that fail to protect according to the current standard are consider evil and morally bankrupt. Hopefully in time it will settle down to the middle, where finally women will have equal rights, yet also be equally responsible for their behavior, and the playing field will be much more level. Dwayne

Yeah, I was afraid of that... Obviously the job isn't always getting done. And as long as the mental midgets of EMS continue to ignore research and propagate the "Just do it" mentality then we will continue to be polluted with the types of individuals that create posts such as yours. This is the end of the macho, ignorant era of EMS brother. Time to get on board the medical professional train, though it appears that mentally, at the least, you'll be unable to afford a ticket. Dwayne

Friggin Don...every time you speak it makes me think someone should be doing CPR on you NOW! Surely you can't consistently come up with such idiotic response while normally mentating... Step up to the plate brother! Use your head, develop an entire thought, think it through, share it, and we'll go on from there. Dwayne

Actually, I'm fortunate to work around Foz as well. Don't let the EMT-B fool you though, he's got a solid view of A&P, a terribly sharp brain, a firm grasp of the logical, and a horrid thirst for debate. Combine all of that with a wicked sense of humor and you'll see it's best not to cut him any breaks. God willing, he'll be easier to understand in print than he is in person. When will they start to teach English in Austrailia? Welcome to the site brother. I look forward to your thoughts. Dwayne

Man, Laura Anne, I've been missing you! Awsome post as usual. Thanks for your thoughts. Dwayne

Man, if I had a nickle.....

Something that just came up this morning... As a medic, why am I required to maintain an ACLS AND a CPR card? :-k Dwayne

Yeah man, I wish we had more threads like this, to help promote harmony with the color'ds.. I'd be willing to bet it's been so quiet because the vast majority of white people are saying, "Heh that was funny! Oh wait, that makes me a racist! Doesn't it? But he's black, so if he said it then I can laugh, can't I? Oh GOD! I just said 'black'! Now I'm going to hell, I just know it!" right up until they felt the need to slef flagelate themselves down to the nearest NAACP office and beg to be forgiven. Kudos. After folks have a chance to think this could turn into an awsome thread! For me, I'm to old, fat and white to come up with any hip new names, so I decided to simpy ad my social commentary... :wink: Have a good day all... Dwayne

Ok..first, take a breath. Second, if you're going to quote my post, is just seems like good manners to address my points instead of simply restating yours. At no point did I mention "Stupid Hosemonkeys", my issue is with the organization, not the individuals. You said it, so please don't attach it to my post. Take another shot, actually read my post, and I'd be happy to discuss your thoughts. Dwayne

LS you're way to smart to believe that Fire and Professional EMS are separate issues. EMS has regularly made attempts to clean up their own backyard, but Fire is the neighbor's giant St. Bernard that keeps jumping the fence and shitting all over it. Simply do some searches concerning increased education in EMS and you'll find untold numbers of ads from the fire union warning the public how, if educational standards are raised, all of the fire houses will have to close and their babies are going to burn to death, in fact, life in our universe will cease to exist because we can't get enough heros with bushy mustaches to fill the shiny red trucks. There is no pretty way that I can think to put it. Fire is purposefully, methodically and intelligently raping EMS. They spend millions and millions of dollars a year convincing the public that education is what neuters the heros they need to keep them safe. And they have a generation head start on the brainwashing. EMS needs to make some changes, but pretending that Fire is simply a scapegoat for a few simple woes we should deal with on our own is simply ignorant. Fire isn't the only pathology, but it's a rapidly spreading, almost certainly terminal malignancy, and I'm afraid our insurance can't afford the treatment necessary for private EMS to survive. Dwayne

Heh, sure, you say that now, but wait until you see him peeing out of a car window at 60mph! :shock: Dwayne