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EMT student forced to drop class
- Thread starter ffemt8978
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Sasha
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How did she plan on being an emt with epilepsy?
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JPINFV
Gadfly
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Provided it's properly controlled, I don't necessarily see any more problem than someone who has IDDM.
Besides, is it too much to ask for people to give her a fair shake?
Shishkabob
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Tech / doctors office / stand by events / fairs and amusement parks, etc etc
Sasha
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If she had a seizure in class i wouldnt call it properly controlled.
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Shishkabob
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If it was new onset, I'd sure hope that it wasn't controlled beforehand... otherwise we'd have a psychic on our hands and that's just scary.
Martyn
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Unfortunately this also happened to someone in my class. She also had a few other health problems at the time and she agreed to drop out. Last I saw of her she was doing well in the CNA classes though.
usafmedic45
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If it wasn't properly controlled, I'd boot her from the program pending proof of establishment of better control. If it was new onset, I'd boot her from the program pending determination of origin of the seizures and establishment of successful anticonvulsant therapy.
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I do not know the legalities behind this, just my opinion is this: The student should have been allowed to get her Cert. She does not have to work on an Ambulance with her Cert. that being said, she should never be allowed to work on an Ambulance where she is the Driver.
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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Until her medical status is more firmly ascertained, no one can say that for certain. Truth be told, none of us on this forum will probably ever have sufficient information to make that judgment.
JPINFV
Gadfly
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That won't stop us from shaking our fists or our heads or...
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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It stops me. I think the school did the right thing. I had students removed or otherwise witnessed the removal of students for less serious issues than this one.
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JPINFV
Gadfly
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Seizure... shaking... sigh.
AlphaButch
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According to the article; She was asked to drop the class. It doesn't have wether the school dropped her or forced her out.
IMO, a good instructor would have discussed dropping the class and if possible, offering a refund (if it's new onset). For the following reasons;
Having a disability that causes seizures can be a safety issue and may affect her future employment. Morality/legality withstanding, it's a fact.
It may also keep her from completing the class if there are clinicals required (depending on the contract/agency that any clinicals would be available for).
If there were no problems in regards to completing the clinicals, then I would have no issue with the student finishing the course; after we had discussed the effects of her disability and the realities of the job.
As an employer, I would have to consult my legal team before hiring her if the only opening I had was on a truck. This would be to ensure I would be properly covered for potential liability and make sure I was in compliance with all the various agencies. I wouldn't have any concern if she were filling a dispatch, coordinator, or community service position.
If it was not a new onset, I'd have to consider alot more information (that wasn't in the article) in regards to having her finish the class.
IMO, a good instructor would have discussed dropping the class and if possible, offering a refund (if it's new onset). For the following reasons;
Having a disability that causes seizures can be a safety issue and may affect her future employment. Morality/legality withstanding, it's a fact.
It may also keep her from completing the class if there are clinicals required (depending on the contract/agency that any clinicals would be available for).
If there were no problems in regards to completing the clinicals, then I would have no issue with the student finishing the course; after we had discussed the effects of her disability and the realities of the job.
As an employer, I would have to consult my legal team before hiring her if the only opening I had was on a truck. This would be to ensure I would be properly covered for potential liability and make sure I was in compliance with all the various agencies. I wouldn't have any concern if she were filling a dispatch, coordinator, or community service position.
If it was not a new onset, I'd have to consider alot more information (that wasn't in the article) in regards to having her finish the class.
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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*facepalm* Sorry for missing that one.
Aidey
Community Leader Emeritus
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I agree completely. ADA or not people with uncontrolled health problems can pose a serious risk. Many, if not all states place restrictions on the ability to get a driver's license if you have an uncontrolled medical condition. I don't see it being any different.
I doubt she would be suing if she agreed to drop the class. The clinicals issue is what I thought of also. The school would be obligated to inform their clinical sites that she has an uncontrolled seizure disorder and I doubt any of them would want to take her.
I missed it too...
abckidsmom
Dances with Patients
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Standard for the DMV in VA is that your license is suspended for medical reasons for one year from the date of your last seizure.
I think that's a reasonable interval to demonstrate proper medical control of the seizures.
I think that's a reasonable interval to demonstrate proper medical control of the seizures.
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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It pretty much permanently disqualifies you as a pilot so it could be worse.
DrParasite
The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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so you can ban someone from having a driver's license, but banning them from becoming an EMT is discrimination? hope she loses the cases and has to pay the defendants attorney's fees.
This seems a little silly.
* If she really was asked to drop the class because the seizure activity was distracting, then it seems discriminatory. I would hope whoever running the program didn't actually do this -- if they did, they probably deserve what's coming.
* If they told her she'd be unable to participate in evolutions where she'd be carrying other patients, or that the clinical sites were unable to accept a student with a recent seizure history, then this is a little different.
It seems like the reasonable thing to do, would be to allow her to complete the didactic portion of training, consult with practicum providers, and allow them to make the decision as to whether they want her as a student. It seems a little more fair, and prone to a little less legal exposure.
I don't think it's the training institute's responsibility to disqualify people because of medical conditions, unless those medical conditions pose a safety or logistical issue to delivery of the parts of the course provided by the training institute.
There's other responsible agencies. I would think this responsibility rests more heavily on the agency that issues professional driver's licences, the examining physician for the driving medical, the state licensing board, and the potential future employer, and their fleet safety and OH&S people.
Without knowing the full story, I wonder if this was just handled badly? Perhaps now the student is justifiably upset, and has decided to litigate?
* If she really was asked to drop the class because the seizure activity was distracting, then it seems discriminatory. I would hope whoever running the program didn't actually do this -- if they did, they probably deserve what's coming.
* If they told her she'd be unable to participate in evolutions where she'd be carrying other patients, or that the clinical sites were unable to accept a student with a recent seizure history, then this is a little different.
It seems like the reasonable thing to do, would be to allow her to complete the didactic portion of training, consult with practicum providers, and allow them to make the decision as to whether they want her as a student. It seems a little more fair, and prone to a little less legal exposure.
I don't think it's the training institute's responsibility to disqualify people because of medical conditions, unless those medical conditions pose a safety or logistical issue to delivery of the parts of the course provided by the training institute.
There's other responsible agencies. I would think this responsibility rests more heavily on the agency that issues professional driver's licences, the examining physician for the driving medical, the state licensing board, and the potential future employer, and their fleet safety and OH&S people.
Without knowing the full story, I wonder if this was just handled badly? Perhaps now the student is justifiably upset, and has decided to litigate?