What do You think

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shannon williams

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How would you resopnd if one of your crew members was diagnosed with epilepsy? Would you want to work with them, would you feel safe with that person as your partner?
 
There are other threads on this or something similar.

If this is a new diagnosis, then they have a moral, ethical and quite possibly legal obligation to report it to their employer.

Also, most newly diagnosed epileptics lose their driving privileges until everything gets sorted out. This is a huge life, safety and liability issue.

I would not work with them and I would encourage them to self report. If they did not, then I would report it as I have to look out for myself, other coworkers who may not be aware, and then the people on the road and patients.
 
Until proven to be under control they are a danger to other drivers and to patients. I do not mean to sound mean but they need to step aside for a couple of years and see how it goes.
 
This topic was actually jussst covered a few weeks ago somewhere around here.

You need to prove it has been controlled with medical therapy and a length of time from you last episode must be significant.
 
don't give your partner a needle or a scalpel :)
 
Veneficus said:
don't give your partner a needle or a scalpel :)
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What do you think of a steering wheel? Stair Chair?
With those, they cant just hurt a patient (Scalpel or IV), but also you, and anyone else in the area.
 
emt-student said:
What do you think of a steering wheel? Stair Chair?
With those, they cant just hurt a patient (Scalpel or IV), but also you, and anyone else in the area.
Click to expand...

I was trying to be funny and lighten the mood a little.

Obviously there are many reasons why a newly diagnosed epileptic shouldn't be working in EMS until their condition is properly controlled.
 
Not to mention, sitting outside next to a traffic accident with a lot of blinking lights... Yeah, that could end badly.

Kidding aside, yes, I would report if he didn't. There are too many delicate procedures that could be horribly screwed up. Hell, just holding C-spine could be risky. Could you imagine if he went into a seizure during that? What kind of liability would be involved?

Put him on paperwork/station duty for a while, until things are straightened out and you figure out how bad it is. It's not worth the risk to yourself or your patients. Even if he isn't that bad, new epileptics typically can't drive, killing half the job of an EMT right there.
 
That's kind of what I was going for, yes. In between the ambulances, firetrucks, police cars, highway assistance... You're likely to go into a seizure even if you AREN'T an epileptic.
 
PapaBear434 said:
That's kind of what I was going for, yes. In between the ambulances, firetrucks, police cars, highway assistance... You're likely to go into a seizure even if you AREN'T an epileptic.
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LOL:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
It should be reported. Not reporting it puts the epileptic person, their partner, the patients, and the public at risk. What if they were driving code 3 and had a seizure?
 
Sasha said:
It should be reported. Not reporting it puts the epileptic person, their partner, the patients, and the public at risk. What if they were driving code 3 and had a seizure?[/QUOTE
My service uses these codes

Code 1 Immediate life threatening
Code 2 Non life threatening
Code 3 Assist Fire Dept.

I agree if the person doesn't have it under control report only if the person does not want to report it.
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fortsmithman said:
My service uses these codes

Code 1 Immediate life threatening
Code 2 Non life threatening
Code 3 Assist Fire Dept.

I agree if the person doesn't have it under control report only if the person does not want to report it.
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We don't even use Codes anymore.

Priority 1 - Light and siren
Priority 2 - No lights and no siren

They decided it had to be all or nothing.
 
In my service we really only use Code 3, which means lights and sirens. And an unofficial Code 4, which means "We should have been at the hospital five minutes ago".

On IFT transports we have an unofficial "Code 2" which is understood as "We should go Code 3, but it will be denied or has been denied, so get us there REALLY quick minus lights and sirens."
 
Code 1- Low priority
Code 2- High priority no lights/siren
code 3- HAUL IT LIGHTS/SIREN
Code 4- everything is ok
 
We use plain english or 10 codes. 10-33 is lights and sirens, 10-40 is non-emergent.

Edit: The number of different codes in this thread is the reason plain english is now the preferred method in many systems.
 
we are assuming alot here, this may just be past medical history, Is this a new diagnosis or is this old and under control. You need to find that out before you proceed. And keep you partner away from flashing lights,regardless of when it was diagnosed. (lol)
 
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