Alledged Medic Hazing Under Investigation

[Jon]

Alleged Medic Hazing Under Investigation

Valerie Levesque
Reporting

(CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA A medic-in-training said she was strapped to a stretcher, poked with a needle and more in an alleged hazing incident by Philadelphia medics.

The alleged victim showed CBS 3 a Photo of a bruise that she said she received during the alleged incident.

The medic-in-training, who spoke with CBS 3 off camera, said she was stuck in the arm with a 14-gauge needle by the two people assigned to train her.

Her lawyer, Stewart Bernstein, said, “Instead of being trained she was taunted, instead of being helped she was being hazed and actually physically abused.”

In a letter written to the Fire Department's Human Resources, the female medic claims the needle incident happened while outside of Presbyterian Hospital. She wrote the incident was punishment for missing a patient’s vein while she was trying to start an I.V.

Read More HERE: http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_361001742.html

Philly Fire Dept. Investigates Hazing Allegation


December 27, 2006 - A former Philadelphia fire medic is quitting, alleging her trainers hazed her.

The fire department is investigation the claims against two veteran paramedics, a man and a woman.
The paramedic in training claims the two incidents she describes as hazing happened inside medic unit 26 while it was parked outside Presbyterian Hospital in University City on December 15th.
Action News obtained her letter to the fire department's human resources manager and her letter of resignation.
She gives her account of the abuse she says she suffered at the hands of two veteran paramedics assigned to train her.
"The first incident involved the sticking of a 14-gauge needle into her arm to teach her as they said the proper say to do it," said attorney Stewart Bernstein. She details a second incident happening a few hours later again in the back of the medic unit 26.

Read More HERE: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=4876555

 

[Mercy4Angels]

oh you have got to be kidding me. hope someone does jail time over this.

 

[Jon]

This happened back in December, and the article is over a week old. There is NOTHING on the Union's website about this.

From what I understand from the story, the subject that is claming she was hazed was a paramedic student, who would have been in her final field internship phase of her training. This would also make her NOT a Philly Fire employee, but a student with an outside agency.

Of course, the articles are ambigious, and it is possible that the subject was a Philadelphia Fire Service Paramedic who was in field training with a preceptor.

I've heard of the IV stunt being done before... but it is still not appropriate.

It is intresting that the names of the medics, as well as the name of the student haven't been released. Also, I'm suprised that the Paramedic Education Program (there are 3 in the city) wasn't mentioned in the segment... this actually makes me think it may be a Philly Fire Medic in training.

So.. what do you guys/gals think?

 

[gradygirl]

The closest I've got to being hazed was when my training officer and partner tried to name me "Porn Queen" but I got Bloodbath instead. That being said, they've told me to watch out; apparently at some point in the not too distant future something will be done to me. That also being said, everyone knows that no means no, so nothing is going to go too far...and no one is getting poked.

 

[Ridryder911]

The story has multiple flaws.

First, I doubt that "veteran" medics would jeopardize their career performing such.
Second, she went straight to an attorney instead of contacting administration or even school officials.... hmmm how thoughtful!

No continued investigation.. hm probably because the whole story was B.S. and after the attorney found out that his client was full of B.S., he dropped her therefore there is no pending lawsuit...

A jaded student that was probably told that she needed to choose another career and instead of " sucking it up" and being mature she decided to "invent" a story. Personally, I would like to see the medics sue her for deformation of character... she would learn something new in life.

R/r 911

 

[Tincanfireman]

Thanks for confirming what I was thinking, Rid. Her story has more holes in it than OJ's alibi. Be interesting to see what comes of it, if anything...

 

[Jon]

I've not heard anything more, but I will keep my ears open.

Philly's EMS system is so backwards it is crazy. I actually belive that the actions could very well have happened. I could see some medics starting an IV on a student to "show how to do it right" partially because that is acceptable behavior in classes (to start IV's on students).

The question in my mind is whether or not it was done with malicious intent, or if a student is blowing this out of proportion because she realized she is going to fail out.



PS... TCERT - Pornstar? I gotta know

 

[FF/EMT Sam]

The closest I've got to being hazed was when my training officer and partner tried to name me "Porn Queen" but I got Bloodbath instead. That being said, they've told me to watch out; apparently at some point in the not too distant future something will be done to me. That also being said, everyone knows that no means no, so nothing is going to go too far...and no one is getting poked.

TCERT raises a good point. Most brother/sisterhoods, such as many fire departments, have initiations of some sort. As long as those stunts do no harm, there should be no objection to them. For instance, everyone at my fire station gets soaked at some point. No big deal; you just change clothes and life goes on as normal.

 

[Jon]

"ER" (the "hit" television show) looked at this during one of their earlier seasons (5th, I think). Dr. Greene became the Medical Director for Chicago EMS "No pay raise and more work" Well... the question was raised about the medics attempting to restrain him to a backboard. It CAN be hazing. Just because everyone does itm doesn't make it OK.

 

[oldschoolmedic]

It wasn't hazing but...

We were sitting around on a slow night and were talking about using the Reeves Sleeve on combative patients. Anyone who has been doing this a while knows that bored medics are dangerous medics. Well one individual decided to brag that there was no way he could be put in a Reeves Sleeve against his will...........half an hour later the supervisor was asking where he was and we told him he was out in the bay. We neglected to mention he was upside-down in a Reeves Sleeve full of ice, that's where we got fussed at between the laughing. Valuable lesson here, don't say never.