There is a video in the article. It cannot be embeded.
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Tony Weinmann, president of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics, said Monday that the city notified two paramedics of pending discipline in connection with Curtis Mitchell’s death.[1]
These paramedics have received notice that they will be disciplined, in spite of being cleared of responsibility in 2 separate investigations. They have not been told what kind of discipline, although it has been leaked to the press that at least one will be fired. At the time this story was published, this morning, one of the paramedics was still at work on the street.
She was still not aware of what kind of punitive action will be taken by the city for being cleared by 2 independent investigations. If she is investigated a third time and cleared, maybe Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Public Safety Director Michael Huss will have to execute her.
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Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Mike Huss would not confirm reports of discipline, but he said the city has completed its investigation and is planning a news conference at 1:30 p.m.[1]
It is now 3:00 PM and still there is no new report of the form of punishment.
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His longtime partner, Sharon Edge, told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that she didn’t think the two paramedics should lose their jobs.
“I think they used them as a scapegoat. I don’t want them to get fired because that wouldn’t be right, and Curtis wouldn’t have wanted that,” said Edge.[1]
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2 independent investigations and the person most affected by the death of her common law husband. The same conclusion. The medics are not at fault in causing the death of Curtis Mitchell.
Scapegoats.
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The paramedics’ union criticized city leaders on Saturday, saying, “It is quite obvious prior to this incident that the city was ill-prepared for this snow disaster. The administrators in charge of the public’s safety did not put the employees of the city of Pittsburgh in a position to carry out their responsibilities in an effective manner.”[1]
Now, if I were the skeptical type, I might suspect that this is an attempt by the people responsible for the handling of emergencies in the City of Pittsburgh to deflect blame onto someone else. Secret higher standards for the people actually doing the work, but lower standards for those in charge. Why so many secrets?
Would that be an unreasonable suspicion?
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We all had ample time to prepare.
– Cecil County Director of Emergency Services Richard Brooks.[2]
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Cecil County does not handle emergencies the same way that Pittsburgh handles emergencies.
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I have also written about this here –
City may discipline EMS workers – Public Safety Director Michael Huss – 02/18/10
Where Was Public Safety Director Michael Huss during the Death of Curtis Mitchell? – 02/20/10
Public Safety Director Michael Huss and Others Continue to Blame the Medics for the Snow – 02/22/10
The Need for Evidence Before Assessing Guilt – 02/24/10
Anonymous Comments on the Death of Curtis Mitchell – 03/02/10
Podcasting, Critical Judgment, and the Death of Curtis Mitchell Part I – 03/22/10
Podcasting, Critical Judgment, and the Death of Curtis Mitchell Part II – 03/22/10
Podcasting, Critical Judgment, and the Death of Curtis Mitchell Part III – 03/22/10
What kind of punishment do you get for NOT disobeying dispatch? – 03/23/10
The Scapegoats Will Be Punished – 03/23/10
Pittsburgh – Punishment, not Planning – 03/24/10
Josie Dimon was the Scapegoat of Public Safety Director Michael Huss in the Death of Curtis Mitchell – 02/16/11
Michael Huss – Pittsburgh EMS Only Needs Someone Good With a Shovel – 02/16/11
Links updated 02/16/11.
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Footnotes:
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[1] Paramedics To Be Disciplined For Man’s Death After Snowstorm – Curtis Mitchell Died, Despite Repeated Calls To Pittsburgh 911
ThePittsburghChannel.com
Posted: 3:54 pm EDT March 22, 2010
Updated: 11:02 am EDT March 23, 2010
Article
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[2] From Mitigation Journal –
EMS Under the Bus in Pittsburgh – 02/28/10
And in the Mitigation Journal podcast –
From the MedicCast –
Snow Storm 2010 Response and Episode 208 of the MedicCast – 02/28/10
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