OHP vs. EMS

[car2back]

not really breaking news anymore, but a good topic of discussion:

Paramedics, OHP Troopers Respond To Video - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

I think the Trooper needs a major spanking, an emergency vehicle does not have to yield right of way to another emergency vehicle (although it would be professional curtoesy to do so), so the Trooper made an illegal traffic stop AND committed a misdemeanor by interfering with an Emergency medical provider giving medical treatment (21 OS 650.3) The "assault" I saw was really resisting arrest, if anything.

 

[rfradioconsult]

Has any public statement been issued regarding the "call" the trooper was on; must not been a high priority call if he could break off to chase down an EMS truck.

 

[Freqed]

In the Video on YouTube the Trooper said he was going to assist a county unit. He doesn't go into any more detail than that.

YouTube - Oklahoma Highway Patrol fight with EMT

 

[wise871]

Keep us up to date on this story. I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

 

[fullgrownbear]

I'm sure there is more to this then just the 3 minute video shot by the patient's son. I don't see two state troopers stopping an ambulance on an emergency run without good reason.....lets reserve judgement until all the facts are out.

 

[BoxAlarm187]

I think the Trooper needs a major spanking, an emergency vehicle does not have to yield right of way to another emergency vehicle (although it would be professional curtoesy to do so), so the Trooper made an illegal traffic stop AND committed a misdemeanor by interfering with an Emergency medical provider giving medical treatment (21 OS 650.3) The "assault" I saw was really resisting arrest, if anything.

This has been a major discussion on a fire/EMS board that I'm on, and the same statement was made on that board. Since the ambulance was not running lights-and-siren, I would argue that it was not different than a private vehicle being operated on the roadway. In fact, my search of the OK statutes, reveals the following:

Oklahoma Statutes Citationized
Title 47. Motor Vehicles
Chapter 11 - Rules of the Road
Article Article 4 - Right Of Way
Section 11-405 - Operation Of Vehicles On Approach Of Authorized Emergency Vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of Section 12-218 of this act, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal or red flashing lights, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

B. This section shall not be construed to require a peace officer operating a police vehicle properly and lawfully in response to a crime in progress to use audible signals nor shall this section operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.


Based on that code section, would the ambulance be required to yield, whether it was running with lights-and-siren or not?

Don't mistake my clarification of the code for supporting the actions of these troopers.

 

[car2back]

I think you're right boxalarm, I went back and looked at the rules for emergency vehicles (11-106), I'd always thought ALL emergency vehicles were exempt from chapter 11 when responding somewhere, but it appears anything besides police vehicles must have all warning equipment activated to disregard traffic law:

The exemptions in paragraphs 3 and 5 of subsection B of this section shall be granted to a law enforcement officer operating an authorized emergency vehicle for law enforcement purposes without using audible and visual signals required by this section

I'm sure there is more to this then just the 3 minute video shot by the patient's son. I don't see two state troopers stopping an ambulance on an emergency run without good reason.....lets reserve judgement until all the facts are out.

Oh I agree there's always more to the story, but from the evidence I have seen this Trooper(s) was behaving very unprofessionally. For the past few days I've been trying to put myself in his shoes and giving him the benefit of the doubt but the only thing I can come up with to explain this is someone's temper and ego got the best of them. If he had really been assaulted, why was no one arrested? I know the couple times I've been assaulted on duty that person was going to jail no questions asked! I'm sure the other half of this behaved less than stellar as well, I look forward to seeing more information!

 

[car2back]

Found a little more of the EMT and Paramedic's story:

EMT In Confrontation With Trooper Speaks Out|NewsChannel 8

Still nothing offical from DPS

 

[Chaos703]

Nothing official from DPS because those Troopers made the whole department look like bafoooons! As I watched it, I thought to myself, "This has got to be some of the poorest judgment I've ever seen out of people who are paid and trained specifically to have good judgment." I can almost promise you that there will be a law suit coming from the patient.

Regardless of who was right and who was wrong, there is absolutely no reason it couldn't have been worked out at the hospital later. Even though there was a tussle, the Troopers put themselves in that situation unnecessarily. Just like that Utah trooper that tazered that guy—the citizen reacted poorly because LE created an unreasonable situation.

Stooooopid.

For the record, I let my temper get the better of me last week, too. I made a fool of myself so I know it when I see it. The only differences are, 1) No one's health was potentially at risk, 2) I don't have a badge and the responsibility that goes with it, 3) I didn't do it on video during the era of YouTube.

 

[Chaos703]

Just looked around to see how this is playing nationally. The basic take is that the OHP is some backwoods, gun toten,' hicks who done got thay's panties in a wad.

Like I say, this is probably more about good judgment than right or wrong.

 

[rfradioconsult]

Unfortunally first impressions is all that you will see on Your Tube; after the requsite "investigation" apologies will be given and assurances that all involved will receive "counseling" on how to handle this type of situation, the rest of the country's opinion of Oklahoma will be reinforced. Just ask any person from the northestern states to describe Oklahoma.

 

[SABRE46]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile 6.0) Sprint Treo850e)

Regardless of what the medic did or didn't do, you cannot impede a medic providing care. Whatever took place before that video could have been easily handled at the hospital after the patients care was transferred. The medic also messed up here by leaving the patient unattended. The whole deal is one big comedy of errors and should be fairly entertaining to watch play out.

 

[Chaos703]

Perfect timing on this:

http://newsok.com/emt-protection-law-signed-in-oklahoma/article/3371842

I have to wonder if this means those Troopers will have to face prosecution now?

 

[SABRE46]

Not sure but it should be interesting to see what happens. Especially when you factor in the mystery dash cam footage that nobody has seen yet...

 

[Secret_Squirrel]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile 6.0) Sprint Treo850e)

Regardless of what the medic did or didn't do, you cannot impede a medic providing care. Whatever took place before that video could have been easily handled at the hospital after the patients care was transferred. The medic also messed up here by leaving the patient unattended. The whole deal is one big comedy of errors and should be fairly entertaining to watch play out.

Who said the patient was unattended? Most of the altercation took place between the paramedic and the troopers. No one's really said where the EMT-B (driver) was during all of this. How do we know he wasn't in the back taking care of the patient? Also, it wasn't an emergency transport so more than likely the patient was very much stable.

 

[SABRE46]

Who said the patient was unattended? Most of the altercation took place between the paramedic and the troopers. No one's really said where the EMT-B (driver) was during all of this. How do we know he wasn't in the back taking care of the patient? Also, it wasn't an emergency transport so more than likely the patient was very much stable.

The driver was the first guy to get chewed on, and yes he was out of the vehicle. Towards the end of the video, you can see that he is around the back of the ambulance while his paramedic is also outside. It does not matter if the patient is stable or not, if they are under your care and you leave them, that is abandonment my friend. That being said, I will reference what I said earlier: Whatever took place could have been handled at the hospital after the patients care was transferred. There was no reason for any of this to have taken place.

 

[car2back]

Trooper finally makes a statement:

Tulsa World: Video: Trooper tells his version of event

he tries to justify his unprofessional behavior, but fails to address interfering with patient care... hmm

 

[car2back]

...It does not matter if the patient is stable or not, if they are under your care and you leave them, that is abandonment my friend....

Abandonment is the unilateral termination of the provider/patient relationship at a time when continuing care is still needed.

I don't think the Paramedic stepping outside the truck to deal with the situation preventing transport (patient care) would constitute abandonment, quite the opposite actually.

 

[SABRE46]

Abandonment is the unilateral termination of the provider/patient relationship at a time when continuing care is still needed.

I don't think the Paramedic stepping outside the truck to deal with the situation preventing transport (patient care) would constitute abandonment, quite the opposite actually.

If the paramedic is outside arguing with law enforcement, and his partner is not in the back of the truck then he is not with the patient therefore not providing care to said patient. Sorry but you just don't leave somebody in the back of the rig unattended.

 

[car2back]

If the paramedic is outside arguing with law enforcement, and his partner is not in the back of the truck then he is not with the patient therefore not providing care to said patient. Sorry but you just don't leave somebody in the back of the rig unattended.

transport is patient care, we all know that. The Trooper was obstructing the transport of the pt, and the Care provider was trying to reestablish transport. There is no written or case law that says getting out of the back alone constitutes discontinutation of patient care.