EMT Trips and Falls while helping a heart patient - then sues the patient.

[sws4420]

A PARAMEDIC who tripped and fell while on a 999 call is suing the heart patient he was sent to help.

Stephen Canning claims he stumbled and twisted his ankle when a security light outside the home of Joan Boardman, 82, went out.

Joan and her husband, James, have been sent a solicitor's letter claiming loss of earnings following the accident, last March.

James, 83, called the ambulance when Joan suffered what the couple thought to be an angina attack at their home in Louth, Lincolnshire.

He said: "We shouldn't have to pay out for him falling over.

"It's morally wrong and has left a very sour taste in the mouth."


http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2008/03/15/paramedic-sues-heart-patient-for-999-fall-86908-20351465/

[Donna]

what would he have done if there were no security lights in the first place........refused to walk in the dark? :blink: stupid lawsuit is right.:rolleye:

[MedicCook]

I have tripped and fallen while going into a patients house and never though about sueing the patient. Now if the injury was due to some sort of negligence in the residence or property that would be a different story. This was a security light that is set to a timer.

[Cutesunshine]

That should be taken care of by workman's comp anyway, right?

Even volunteers have some form of insurance.

[MedicCook]

It happened in England though, so I am not sure what kind of benefit they have.

[sws4420]

One benefit the patient has in England is that if this EMT loses their suit that he has to pay the legal fees of the person he sued.

[MedicCook]

Now if he fell through a staircase in the house becuase they home owner did not maintain the residence then I would have no problem with the case. When I fell and hurt my back the first time it was while walking outside the house at night with no external lighting. I tripped on a curb that I did not know was there. I was carrying my drug bag and the defibrillator which combined are pretty heavy. Maybe I should go and get a lawyer now and sue them.

[Donna]

I agree with the staircase scenario, if they're paying taxes for emergency services, they are liable for having the house safe enough for them to enter to help them. Does England have taxes? :blink: :giggles:

[sws4420]

They have a pretty high tax rate, if I remember right. I think if you make over $65k a year you pay a 40% tax rate.

[MedicCook]

Not all places pay taxes for EMS though. A lot of places that have gone to commercial EMS agencies don't pay taxes, instead you pay when you call EMS. If you have insurance they pay for it, if you don't have insurance then you are sometimes responsible for the bill. Some agencies do what is called soft billing if you don't have insurance they will send you the bill but if you don't pay they don't go after you for it.

[MERV]

England has a universal healthcare system so the EMT's medical expenses aren't an issue. The issue is the pay for being out of work, as in the lost wages. If the guy was suing for anything above lost wages like pain and suffering, I'd say the case is BS. Lost wages over something that could have been prevented by the home owner isn't a lot to ask in my opinion.