Sickos Molest The Sick
Just when you thought you were safe after calling 911, you may be in the hands of a predator. Recently a story came across the wires that caused me an unusual amount of concern. Reportedly over the past 18 months at least 129 ambulance attendants across the United States have been accused of sexually related crimes on or off duty according to an investigation by The Associated Press. Alarmingly, many patients were molested while riding in the back of an ambulance.
State health officials in 23 states reported receiving sexually related complaints involving EMS workers. It is quite disturbing to think that while one is in the most disabled state and incapacitated traveling the back of an ambulance one could be assaulted or fondled by a sexual predator.
Our own internal investigation and experiences revealed that many suppliers of emergency medical services do not conduct proper criminal background checks of their personnel. The emergency services profession employs almost one million people in the United States.
The abuse and molestation of incapacitated patients and victims is simply inexcusable. Most passengers in EMS vehicles are defenseless and vulnerable. They are unable to help themselves and afraid to complain. Many of the problems that arise during ambulance and EMS transport are caused by improper training, inadequate staffing, lack of supervision and failure to conduct a proper and adequate background check. EMS carriers must offer their clients the highest practical degree of physical, mental and psycho-social care. Too many EMS abuse cases go unreported.
The catastrophic injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily have handled numerous cases since 1979 involving the mishandling of patients being transported by EMS vehicles. We have handled cases where our clients were physically and verbally abused, dropped by attendants, as well as suffering other unconscionable physical and sexual assaults. We always find it disturbing to learn of these horrific incidents including paramedic abuse. Surprisingly, more than half of the United States do not automatically bar known sex offenders from working as EMTs.
