Legal Issues
The legal issues topic contains news and information about legal issues affecting EMS personnel, agencies or departments. Find the latest news from personnel misconduct, to disciplinary and harassment cases, to malpractice lawsuits, as well as advice to prevent legal action with EMS training, documentation and management.
What happens if EMS providers who use marijuana safely and legally test positive days later in violation of policies?
Be the person you needed when you were new and set a positive example on every shift
Discover actionable strategies for EMS teams to minimize errors through rest, focus and teamwork
A new policy aims to curb sexual harassment claims, including a $350K settlement to former 鈥淛ersey Shore鈥� star and EMT Angelina Pivarnick over alleged misconduct
Former Bellingham firefighters alleged that a 2021 vaccine mandate violated their rights and caused emotional distress through a 鈥渟corched-earth鈥� enforcement policy
Field supervisors need to ensure EMS personnel follow infection control guidelines and ambulance decontamination processes
Eve Grau, co-founder of Royal Ambulance, a Glassdoor Employee鈥檚 Choice winner, shares the moments that matter, and how to recognize performance
On his first day, President Trump ordered federal agencies to end all 鈥渆quity-related鈥� grants and contracts, later mandating contractors to certify they don鈥檛 promote DEI
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is seeking the dissolution of the Dillsboro Emergency Ambulance Unit due to declining responses
A judge sentenced the driver to seven years after he pleaded guilty to the wrong-way crash that killed off-duty Independence Firefighter/Paramedic Harold 鈥淕ene鈥� Eddins
The former Albuquerque Fire Department dispatcher told a 911 caller in 2015 to 鈥渄eal with it yourself鈥� before hanging up on her as she tried to help a 17-year-old shooting victim who later died
Lt. Nelson Seto called 911 reporting breathing trouble, but EMTs left when he didn鈥檛 answer the door; hours later, he was found dead
Steve Whitehead shares how to avoid legal action, negligence or malpractice with the golden rule
No one wants to join a sinking ship
The lawsuit asserts the Hercules officers were informed that the patient was experiencing a seizure
The responders said in a report that they were hungry a fatigued; a firefighter/EMT involved in the case has been fired
Allegations of a coverup lead to disciplinary action within the fire department
New Jersey State Police mistook the woman鈥檚 stroke symptoms for drug use, delaying medical care and leaving her permanently disabled, a lawsuit said
A former Baker City firefighter was sued by city councilors for allegedly making false statements in a recall petition related to the decision to discontinue the fire department鈥檚 ambulance operations
Balance your emotional reactions with rational decisions to win the internal big game
Prosecutors said the former Sioux City Fire Rescue paramedic failed to verify the medication before drawing it up and gave the patient rocuronium instead of ketamine
The former fire department EMS assistant chief pleaded guilty to stealing fentanyl and morphine while working for a county EMS department
Managing high-risk/difficult refusals with the FEARS mnemonic
Being present is only one part of MBWA: You also need to ask questions and build rapport
The defense attorneys representing one of the firefighters share the legal and operational lessons from this high-profile case, emphasizing documentation, training and BWCs
FEMA, wildfire response and a fire chief running calls on expired licensure: Chris and Kelly break down the biggest news from around the country
Authorities say the fire captain used his role as an EMT instructor to inappropriately touch students under the guise of medical assessments
An easy patient assessment activity you can incorporate in any classroom
Public safety leaders need to evaluate the impact of executive orders, policy pronouncements and a temporary freeze on grants on their departments and communities
The primary goal of mental wellness check-ins is to provide public safety employees with increased quality of life as well as tools to manage their response to stress and trauma
Here is an action plan for assessing the impact of the Trump administration鈥檚 temporary freeze on federally funded grants and a federal judge blocking that order
Improve your patient care and decrease your legal liability risk with conscious, deliberate practices
Valparaiso police bodycam video shows how delayed assessment prolonged treatment for a stroke victim
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