NJ EMTs Accused of Punching Patient. They Say He Was the Aggressor.

Kevin Shea nj.com (MCT) New Jersey health authorities have suspended the certifications of three emergency medical technicians on accusations they assaulted a combative patient by punching him several times while in the back of an ambulance in Jersey City this summer. When the EMTs were later interviewed by their employer, RWJBarnabas Health, they denied striking the patient during the July 4, 2020 incident. However, each admitted in a second interview that they indeed punched the patient, according to the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, in the Department of Health. The EMTs – James Piro, John Bonvenca and James Han – also submitted reports about the incident that portray themselves as victims of an assault from a combative patient, and do not detail them punching the patient, the EMS office wrote in October letters suspending their certifications. “In order to effectively care for all patients, clinicians must exercise good judgment and treat patients with dignity and respect. Indeed, striking a patient is never an appropriate response to a situation and is deemed abuse of a patient, a prohibited act under [state law],” each letter says. That’s not the way it happened at all, and the state has the entire incident backwards, a lawyer representing Piro and Bonvenca told NJ Advance Media. Piro and Bonvenca came to the aid of fellow EMTs and paramedics and ...
Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services News - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: News News Feed Assault EMS EMT New Jersey Source Type: news