A $17,900,000 Recovery!!! --- EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and EMS (Emergency Medical Service) Medical Negligence: The Basics by Attorney Charles Jerome Ware

The lawyers and staff at Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, a national law firm, represent victims who have been injured by the negligence of EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), EMS (Emergency Medical Service) personnel, and paramedics. The firm's motto is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

First responders such as EMTs, EMSs, and paramedics provide critically important care that greatly influences and affects a person's immediate health and well-being, ultimate survival, as well as their future quality of life. These medical professionals have a duty to respond promptly and to properly diagnose and address medical symptoms. They also have an additional duty to create and preserve accurate records of their observations as well as the treatment they provide.

Some examples of Paramedic, EMT and EMS negligence include:

1. Failure to respond in a timely manner;
2. Failure to bring required equipment to the scene;
3. Failure to create and preserve accurate records;
4. Failure to maintain ambulatory equipment;
5. Failure to properly use medical devices;
6. Administering the wrong medicine or incorrect dosage;
7. Failure to maintain proper EMT, EMS and paramedic certifications;
8. Failure to properly staff ambulances; and
9. Negligent driving to the hospital.

EMT and EMS Medical Negligence Statistics:

1. Medical malpractice lawsuit statistics for basic EMT malpractice in the USA:

• 78 medical malpractice reports were made to the National Practitioner Databank regarding basic EMT’s in the US 1990-2004 (NPDB Summary Report, National Practitioner Data Bank, US DHHS)

2. Medical malpractice lawsuit statistics cardiac EMT malpractice in the USA:

• 23 medical malpractice reports were made to the National Practitioner Databank regarding cardiac or critical care EMT’s in the US 1990-2004 (NPDB Summary Report, National Practitioner Data Bank, US DHHS)

3. Medical malpractice lawsuit statistics for intermediate EMT malpractice in the USA:

• 16 medical malpractice reports were made to the National Practitioner Databank regarding intermediate EMT’s in the US 1990-2004 (NPDB Summary Report, National Practitioner Data Bank, US DHHS)

SOME EMT and EMS Negligence Settlements:

(1) $17,900,000.00 RECOVERY: From failure of EMTs on two (2) emrgency calls to advise hospitalization to the Plaintiff when the Plaintiff, age 35, with a kidney stone complaint of severe continuing pain and numbness; failure of emergency hospital staff to place a stent to bypass ureter obstruction; as a result, Plaintiff suffered septic shock, gangrene, loss of both hands and feet, optic nerve damage, blindness in one eye, and diminished vision in the other eye [New York State].

(2) $5,000,000.00 CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT: Failure of airboat rescue squad (EMS personnel) in negligently overloading an airboat which contained the strapped-in decedent. The airboat consequently took on water and drowned the decedent during the attempted medical transport to an awaiting ambulance.

The plaintiff estate (of the decedent) sued the rescue squad for negligence and failure to properly train the staff. The defendants denied the allegations and claimed immunity [New Hampshire].

(3) $3,500,000.00 RECOVERY: Paramedic (EMT) Medical Malpractice; Emergency Department Negligence; Intubation into esophagus instead of trachea by EMTs; Cardiac and respiratory arrest; wrongful death at age 26.

This paramedic (EMT) medical malpractice action involved the wrongful death of a 26-year-old female claimed was a routine asthma attack.

The plaintiff estate alleged that the paramedics employed by the defendant county negligently intubated into the plaintiff's esophagus instead of her trachea, thereby causing her ultimate death (Florida).

(4) $825,000.00 SETTLEMENT: Wrongful Death; Negligence by Paramedics (EMTs).

Plaintiff estate's decedent, a 61-year-old man, married without children, awoke at his customary hour and took Naprosyn which had been prescribed for arthritic discomfort. The decedent complained to his wife that he was feeling itchy and not well. Emergency medical technicians were summoned. The decedent's wife reported to the EMTs the history of the medication, the rash, and itching. The EMTs found the decedent in the bathroom slumped over, administered oxygen, attempted to insert an oral phalangeal airway, placed him on a backboard, and carried him out.

The patient was described as being combative (he was literally fighting for air) and pulling off his oxygen mask. Two paramedics arrived at the scene as the plaintiff's decedent was being put into an ambulance. One of the paramedics, the primary defendant in this case, took charge and assumed medical control. Despite clear signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, neither paramedic administered epinephrine. After approximately 11 minutes, the plaintiff's decedent went into cardiac arrest while in the ambulance. The defendant paramedic inserted an endotracheal tube and administered lidocaine. Despite attempts at defibrillation, both in the ambulance and it the emergency room, the plaintiff's decedent was unable to be resuscitated [Massachusetts].

[www.bwglaw.com/ Paramedic and EMT negligence; www.rightdiagnosis.com/ EMT and Medical Malpractice; www.jvra.com/Verdict/ 11-07-2012]