EMT was suspended without pay for trying to save choking girl; I understand why, but do you think there should be an exception in his case?

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:28:31 -0400

I understand why he was suspended, but do you think there should be an exception in his case? Why, or why not?

A heroic New York EMT who tried in vain last week to save a 7-year-old school girl choking on her lunch said he was suspended because it is against company policy to make a stop without being called.

Qwasi Reid, who works for Assist Ambulance, was transporting a nursing home patient last Wednesday with his partner when he said they were flagged down at a red light by a frantic man who told them that a student was choking. Reid said his partner, who was not reprimanded by the company, told the man they already had a patient and there was nothing they could do.

Reid, who has driven ambulances for four years, said he knew the choking girl took a priority over the transport, and against his partner's urging, jumped out of the ambulance's back door and administered first aid to the girl, who he said had already turned blue. No one at the school was rendering first aid, he said.

"I don't regret it," Reid, who said he is suspended without pay, told FoxNews.com. "I'd do it again. If I know there's a child choking, I'm going to do my best to help her."

The 7-year-old girl, Noelia Echavarria, is on life support at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. She has been declared brain-dead. The family said through a lawyer that they maintain hope that she’ll recover, The New York Post reported.

Reid said he was suspended because it is against company police to make a stop without being called and he said they are only concerned about insurance money. Assist Ambulance did not immediately return a phone call from FoxNews.com. Readers set up a GoFundMe page for Reid.

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EMT says he was suspended without pay for trying to save choking girl

A heroic New York EMT who tried in vain last week to save a 7-year-old school girl choking on her lunch said he was suspended because it is against company policy to make a stop without being called.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 10:33 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:33:47 -0400

EMT Emergency Medical Technician? Seems like they should stop to render aid to an emergency.

The man did what is right and I commend him for saying he would do it again.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Oct 29 at 2015 11:08 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:08:42 -0400

MSgt Curtis Ellis sadly in this day and age, it is likely less about insurance money, and more about liability. IF the little girl dies (likelihood high), the family could decide to sue the ambulance company as it was their employee who stepped in to render aid. As a private citizen we are semi protected by good samaritan laws against that type of action. An employee of an ambulance company who is on duty would not be protected by those laws. The company is simply protecting itself. By suspending the employee they are saying that what he did was in violation of company policy putting a separation between him and the company. I do not think it is right, but I think it is the sad reality of our modern culture (or lack thereof). He is a first responder, and he did what a first responder should do: take action.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 11:09 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:09:39 -0400

When the fear of a lawsuit threat keeps people from doing the right thing, that is when we have lost our way.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 11:18 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:18:33 -0400

Qwasi Reid needs a medal and a raise, not a suspension. What is wrong with these bureaucrats who punish people for doing good?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 11:31 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:31:03 -0400

If that were me, I'd find a new job. As soon as I had a written job offer in hand, I'd give the company not a two week notice, but a two minute warning.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 29 at 2015 12:14 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:14:07 -0400

He did the right thing. Luckily for our society, the mere fact this IS a national news story should give us hope that there are enough people of good will and common sense (regardless of politics or philosophy) that find the details of the story disturbing and support the actions of this heroic 1st Responder.

Whatever the motivation may be, as with every organization, the ambulance company makes rules that cannot cover every situation. Instead of hiding behind rules the company should allow for some flexability for these employees whose specilaized education and vocation is about saving lives.

What must it be like for someone to know they can help--perhaps save a child's life--but chose out of fear for their job or blind obediance to a company "rule", NOT to help? For me, given a similar situation, the answer is simple; it's better to lose my job then my soul.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 12:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:15:39 -0400

Assuming the elderly patient in the ambulance was in no dire harm and assuming he knew that - he did the right thing and there's parents out there that are thankful that he did.

Sometimes, common sense should win out over "corporate" policy - but unfortunately, people get "stuck" on stupid.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 12:40 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:40:16 -0400

https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/art30.htm#BM3000a

I would say that the EMT was in the right.......if I understand this correctly.

Public Health Law Article 30 - New York State Department of Health

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 29 at 2015 12:45 PM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:45:05 -0400

I too understand the policy, but don't EMT's also take the Hippocratic Oath? I sincerely hope Mr. Reid will get a better job!

Response by SSG Paul Newman made Oct 29 at 2015 12:53 PM

SSG Paul Newman — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:53:00 -0400

This company should loose it's license. I started as a91B in the 70's a 91c in the 80's and have spent the last 27 years as a civilian medic and RN. That EMT had a duty to act and did. His partner is in the wrong line of work. If this EMT wants to come to Charleston, WV, I'm sure there is a position in our city, county or private ambulance services for him. ALL LIVES MATTER. And for his partner, practice this line, you're going to need it: "Do you want fries with that?" Assist Ambulance? They must be in the business of assisting people to die, 'cause they sure suck at health care.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 29 at 2015 12:59 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:59:58 -0400

Somethings are more important than procedures like: life.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Oct 29 at 2015 1:41 PM

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 13:41:16 -0400

MSgt Curtis Ellis Man. Whatever happened to common sense in the world? This is unbelievable. Fortunately, I believe that that company is going to wind up eating crow due to the pressure of social media.

Still.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Oct 29 at 2015 2:33 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:33:42 -0400

From a purely logical standpoint about company policy I can agree with it, but if you talk about moral and ethical reasons then I think this guy did the correct thing.
Because we all know in this day and age of instant social media postings that had he not rendered aid that about a million Facebook, Twitter and other social media judges would be calling for this guys head on a platter for failing to render aid. Its a lose, lose situation if your a first responder. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Still much respect to Mr. Reid for doing the morally / ethically correct thing.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 29 at 2015 3:50 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 15:50:33 -0400

It is a stupid policy that doesn't take life-saving as the top priority.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Oct 29 at 2015 8:21 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:21:30 -0400

YES!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Oct 29 at 2015 8:53 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:53:15 -0400

Wow.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Oct 29 at 2015 10:10 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:10:19 -0400

.......the Blue Falcon award goes toooo.....Assist Ambulance!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 21 at 2017 12:35 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:35:44 -0400

Where I the CEO of that company I would direct that he was suspended without pay as per written company policy

I would then offer him personally. A temp position as my assistant for length of time equal to said suspension at a pay rate double his normal day rate

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 21 at 2017 1:11 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:11:36 -0400

Disclaimer: I am a licensed EMT in the state of Michigan. Laws vary from state to state. What I say here is true in Michigan, and probably true in New York.

I doubt there is a company policy that prohibits an ambulance crew from making a service stop without being dispatched. In Michigan an Ambulance may self dispatch, BUT dispatch must know that the unit has been dispatched and is no longer available should another call arise. In certain situations dispatch may need to change a stand-by crews alert status. Furthermore several states have laws that may result in temporary or permanent civil forfeiture of an EMT's medical license for failing to stop and render medical assistance to an unattended person in medical distress, on-duty or off.

The problem here is that the Ambulance crew "technically" abandoned their transport patient. Chances are the driver was also a licensed EMT, but the crew accepted a patient for transfer and was obligated to exercise "proper and complete" care within the scope of their license, and was legally bound to complete that care unless they were able to transfer the 1st patient to equivalent or more definitive care; in this case, a licensed attending EMT, a method of transportation, and a vehicle operator. The ONLY exception to this requirement is a mass casualty incident as defined by their Medical Control Board.

That said..., if my transfer patient was in no danger, I probably would have made the same call, and hoped for a temporary suspension.

Response by SSG Michael Eastes made Sep 22 at 2017 1:26 AM

SSG Michael Eastes — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 01:26:10 -0400

I was an ambulance attendant in the RA, and we stopped more than once while already on a call, to render aid. It should be the basic mindset of anyone with medical training, IMHO.