Kentucky Paramedic faces revocation of cert

[helicopper 1,050]

There was a topic a while back about a photographer being arrested for taking photos at a scene but this is an on-duty paramedic now facing the loss of his certification/license for taking pictures at a scene and posting them online.

Do any agencies around here have policies on the use of cameras (cell phone or otherwise) by on-duty personnel? Should we?

Shelley Byrne

The Paducah Sun (Kentucky)

Jun. 19-- -- A special panel could consider temporarily revoking former Clinton-Hickman ambulance driver John Snow's emergency medical provider license by the end of the week.

The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Service's preliminary hearing board found enough merit in the case Monday to ask for an administrative hearing, Kentucky Board of EMS legal adviser Mary Jennings said. That could eventually lead to a permanent revocation, she said.

Jennings compared the preliminary hearing to a grand jury forwarding a case to a trial jury.

Paperwork must be filed with the state attorney general's office to formally request the hearing, which will take time, Jennings said. She could not estimate how long.

As a more immediate action, the board requested a meeting of the three-member immediate temporary suspension board. The board, consisting of a state medical adviser, a doctor and a paramedic, will meet soon to determine whether a temporary revocation is appropriate, Jennings said.

Jennings was trying to coordinate the panel's schedules, but said she expected a meeting by Friday at the latest.

The Clinton-Hickman County Ambulance Service fired Snow last month, saying its investigation showed that while working he used his cell phone to take photographs of Josh Smith, who was fatally injured in a May 20 car crash. There were reports that Snow posted the photos on the Internet.

The allegations led to a second complaint being filed against Snow with the Kentucky Board of EMS. The first complaint was filed in February after he was accused of posting photographs of wreck victims and other personal information about ambulance calls on a MySpace.com Web site that he maintained.

To see more of The Paducah Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.paducahsun.com. Copyright © 2007, The Paducah Sun, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

[Guest]

There was a topic a while back about a photographer being arrested for taking photos at a scene but this is an on-duty paramedic now facing the loss of his certification/license for taking pictures at a scene and posting them online.

Do any agencies around here have policies on the use of cameras (cell phone or otherwise) by on-duty personnel?  Should we?

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Did he not blur out the guys face? When I took my CFR course the instructor said something along the lines of always carry a camera because you never know what you'll see, and if it's odd or interesting you want to be able to dsicuss it later.

What are the laws with regards to taking photos of patients. injuries, accidents, etc.? Are you allowed to use them for AAR/learning reasons? What new restrictions occur if you want to post or publish them (presumably for learning purposes)?

[Guest]

It would seem that getting the permission of the patient would be required to show anything that could identify them. I'm presuming they are basing the revocation ruling on violating the patient's right to privacy. If someone was a civilian standing on public ground and took pictures, that would be completely different, but EMS personnel actively taking part would be subject to whatever laws and rules are set by the Federal and State government.

[calhobs 110]

I would think it would be a HIPPA violation

Edited June 21, 2007 by calhobs

[Goose 188]

I love how they refered to him as an ambulance driver...

I don't know about you guys, but i wouldn't be caught dead taking pictures with a digital camera or cell phone while im on the clock. As far as i'm concerned the investigation is best left to the experts aka the police - if you saw somthing prior to cutting a car apart, document it and inform those who need to know. I know that at one of my places of work we carry a sealed "MVA Kit" which includes a camera, but is to be used soley in the event that our ambulance is involved in an accideent. With an almost infinite ammount of onlookers and passerbys, the liability is simply far to great to bother. On the same token, i get emails and get shown pictures by partners/past partners frequently...and have partners that do it - but what happens in an ambulance stays in an ambulance.

If the guy was going around posting pics on the internet w/o sensoring then he deserves to have his card pulled as far as i'm concerned.

[IzzyEng4 427]

If you take pictured of an accident scene for such purposes you need to make sure that the patient's face in either masked out or is not shown. As first responders we must remember the patient's right to privacy, which we area all taught in our CPR / MRT / EMT / Medic classes. Also too taking pictures while you area responding as a first responder and care giver is a no no in my opinion.

If I go and snap some shots as a "lay person" or even as a news photographer is one thing. So is taking a couple of shot of the accident scene for the purpose of showing the hospital personnel how bad the accident was, showing damage to the car to help determine injuries as well. But when you take photos and publish them in any media sort then you have to watch out for violations and also to if there are rules outlined against this by you corps, fire department or employer, you need to follow them.

Its sad that he may lose his license because of this but he has to live with his choice.

Edited June 21, 2007 by IzzyEng4