You thought you were bad at your job? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Zeraph · 07-25-2009, 07:37 PM

This might cheer you up...or not.

Quote:

Roger Gray failed to spot the woman's serious condition and told her she would have to wait hours at accident and emergency before seeing anyone, the Health Professions Council heard.

He then advised her and her husband to have a drink as it would "not hurt".

The woman, who was suffering stomach pains and had a history of low blood pressure, took herself to hospital the next morning but died two days later.

Two months later Gray told an MS sufferer that she "wasn't an emergency case" and that should have taken a taxi to hospital by taxi.

Gray was working for the South Central Ambulance Service in Aylesbury, Bucks at the time of the incidents in September and November 2006.

On September 8, 2006, he went to the home of a critically ill woman, referred to as PW, after her husband became increasingly concerned about her.

Reading from a statement the man, Mr W, told the HPC that she was grey in the face, dehydrated and her stomach pains were "unbearable".

When Gray arrived he told PW "she would have to relax her stomach as it was so rigid".

Although he mentioned taking her to hospital he warned her she may have to wait four or five hours at accident and emergency.

Mr W said: "My wife didn't want to go to hospital but I was unhappy he had given her the choice."

Mr W said the paramedic was about to leave when he asked if the couple enjoyed an evening drink.

"I said that we liked gin and orange and Mr Gray said: 'That will not hurt to minimise the pain'.

PW was taken to hospital and assessed the following day.

Doctors found that fluid was leaking into the stomach but did not know the cause.

Mr W phoned the hospital on September 11 but by this time police were on their way to him to break the news of his wife's death.

But seriously. How responsible do you think this guy is? Should he go to prison for manslaughter?

I'm really not sure myself. probably not just because otherwise it would put undue pressure on those working as paramedics. But I dunno...this guy was pretty bad...

If your job is saving lives and youre so horribly bad at it that you kill people on accident should you go to prison for such? Would prison be effective?

silent_jay · 07-25-2009, 07:55 PM

I say he's guilty of something, manslaughter, negligence causing death in the case of 'PW', I always thought a paramedics job was to assess the situation, and stabilize the person until they can get to a hospital to be examined by a doctor, he assessed the situation all right, but got it all wrong, and what kind of paramedic tells a person to have a 'gin and orange'(yuck gin), so yeah negligence causing death or manslaughter is my call for this guy.

Xerxys · 07-25-2009, 08:05 PM

I don't think he should go to jail. I mean, he isn't a doctor. But he should be fired. That was one hell of a mistake to make seeing as they are taught to go by what the patient is saying. Just because you think someone is not in pain doesn't mean they aren't in pain. He should have taken her to the hospital.

Also, you should relax your stomach? WTF is that? He should definitely be fined somehow, but not jailed.

KellyC · 07-26-2009, 12:01 AM

How the hell did someone like that become a paramedic? Seems to me they need to do more careful screening, both the people who trained him to become a paramedic and the people who hired him.

JumpinJesus · 07-26-2009, 06:27 AM

he may be a burgeoning serial killer testing out his resolve of being responsible for someone's death.

Fotzlid · 07-26-2009, 06:56 AM

There has to be more to that story.
There are no statements from the police, hospital, ambulance service or the paramedic and his partner.

Gebbinn · 07-26-2009, 09:03 AM

Ok, this is in England it looks like. I dont know what thier laws are like, but here in the states there are differing levels of aid workers in ambulance services. At your local fire department level, you may be aided by what is known as a "first responder." This person has attended a 5 day, 40 hour course to recieve certification. This course is on basic lifesaving techniques, and not much more. Next is the "EMT" who has attended a course of at least 120 hours, some are more intense. This person has been trained in advanced lifesaving techniques, including use of defibrilators, bone stabilization, and other more complicated techniques. The paramedic has attended a 4 year pre-med college, and has been trained basically the same as a doctor. The Paramedic can administer prescription level drugs, perform on the spot surgical techniques if needed and other more in depth treatment, as well as make certain diagnoses of illnesses that EMTs and First responders cannot.

So, that being said, if the person in this article is a first responder.. the problem lies with the department, who is not ensuring that more advanced personnel are not following up on the initial diagnoses. If he is an EMT, the problem lies with both the EMT and the Department. The department is responsible for ensuring the proper personnel are dispatched on an emergency call, while the EMT should have been more knowledgeable about his job and should NEVER advise against going to the emergency room (of course in england they have socialized health care and emergency rooms waits do in fact last in some cases upwards of 8 hours before receiving care.) If this was a full paramedic, then he deserves to be punished. A paramedic is basically a mini doctor, and if a doctor had administered the shoddy level of care, he would be in jail, and sued until his eyes bled.

Cynthetiq · 07-26-2009, 09:11 AM

What do you call the person in med school who graduates at the bottom of his class?

Doctor.

there are shitty people out there, that's for damned sure. and these shitty people do their jobs shitty, and put other people at risk.

but hey so long as everyone gets a shot at having their dream fulfilled....

07-25-2009, 07:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
silent_jay Her Jay Location: Ontario for now....	I say he's guilty of something, manslaughter, negligence causing death in the case of 'PW', I always thought a paramedics job was to assess the situation, and stabilize the person until they can get to a hospital to be examined by a doctor, he assessed the situation all right, but got it all wrong, and what kind of paramedic tells a person to have a 'gin and orange'(yuck gin), so yeah negligence causing death or manslaughter is my call for this guy. __________________ Absence makes the heart grow fonder

07-26-2009, 12:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
KellyC Comment or else!! Location: Home sweet home	How the hell did someone like that become a paramedic? Seems to me they need to do more careful screening, both the people who trained him to become a paramedic and the people who hired him. __________________ Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe? Me: Shit happens.

07-26-2009, 06:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	he may be a burgeoning serial killer testing out his resolve of being responsible for someone's death. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

07-26-2009, 09:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gebbinn Crazy	Ok, this is in England it looks like. I dont know what thier laws are like, but here in the states there are differing levels of aid workers in ambulance services. At your local fire department level, you may be aided by what is known as a "first responder." This person has attended a 5 day, 40 hour course to recieve certification. This course is on basic lifesaving techniques, and not much more. Next is the "EMT" who has attended a course of at least 120 hours, some are more intense. This person has been trained in advanced lifesaving techniques, including use of defibrilators, bone stabilization, and other more complicated techniques. The paramedic has attended a 4 year pre-med college, and has been trained basically the same as a doctor. The Paramedic can administer prescription level drugs, perform on the spot surgical techniques if needed and other more in depth treatment, as well as make certain diagnoses of illnesses that EMTs and First responders cannot. So, that being said, if the person in this article is a first responder.. the problem lies with the department, who is not ensuring that more advanced personnel are not following up on the initial diagnoses. If he is an EMT, the problem lies with both the EMT and the Department. The department is responsible for ensuring the proper personnel are dispatched on an emergency call, while the EMT should have been more knowledgeable about his job and should NEVER advise against going to the emergency room (of course in england they have socialized health care and emergency rooms waits do in fact last in some cases upwards of 8 hours before receiving care.) If this was a full paramedic, then he deserves to be punished. A paramedic is basically a mini doctor, and if a doctor had administered the shoddy level of care, he would be in jail, and sued until his eyes bled. __________________ There are 10 types of people in this world... Those who understand Binary and those who dont. I aim to please.. to bad for you I am a horrible shot. Every time you open your mouth, stupid comes out.

07-26-2009, 09:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	What do you call the person in med school who graduates at the bottom of his class? Doctor. there are shitty people out there, that's for damned sure. and these shitty people do their jobs shitty, and put other people at risk. but hey so long as everyone gets a shot at having their dream fulfilled.... __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-25-2009, 08:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	I don't think he should go to jail. I mean, he isn't a doctor. But he should be fired. That was one hell of a mistake to make seeing as they are taught to go by what the patient is saying. Just because you think someone is not in pain doesn't mean they aren't in pain. He should have taken her to the hospital. Also, you should relax your stomach? WTF is that? He should definitely be fined somehow, but not jailed.

07-26-2009, 06:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	There has to be more to that story. There are no statements from the police, hospital, ambulance service or the paramedic and his partner.