By Jill Stark
PARAMEDICS who wrongly declared a car crash victim dead have been ‘‘hung out to dry’’ after an ambulance service report was made public without the men being briefed on its contents, their union claims.
The three paramedics are said to be ‘‘extremely distressed’’ after Ambulance Victoria’s chief executive announced an inquiry had determined they failed to follow procedure at the crash scene.
Daniel Huf was trapped between his overturned car and a guard rail after the Bacchus Marsh smash a fortnight ago. Paramedics determined he had died, only for SES volunteers to later find he was still alive. The 30-year-old remains in a serious but stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Ambulance boss Greg Sassella told reporters on Friday an investigation found that after 12 minutes examining Mr Huf paramedics noted he was taking only four breaths a minute and declared him dead.
Mr Sassella said the paramedics could not explain their actions or why they had noted the patient was breathing yet still pronounced him deceased.
However, Steve McGhie, state secretary of the Ambulance Employees Association told The Sunday Age the men had not received a copy of the internal investigation’s report or had a chance to respond.
‘‘Publicly they’ve been vilified and yet they haven’t even been give a fair opportunity to review the outcome of the investigation and even make comment. Ambulance Victoria are saying that they didn’t follow procedure but the paramedics have not had any suggestion to them that they didn’t follow procedure and they don’t know whether the report has said they didn’t, or what procedure they’re referring to,’’ Mr McGhie said.
The men are no longer allowed to work together and one has been stood down from his role as a paramedic educator.
Tony Walker, Ambulance Victoria’s general manager regional services, said the paramedics had been contacted on Friday and told of the findings and that a public statement would be made. He said the men had acknowledged their error during the investigation and management would meet with them tomorrow to discuss the findings in detail.
Mr McGhie said historically paramedics have been taught that when a patient is taking less than six breaths per minute it indicates they are close to death.
‘‘That appears to be the sticking point in regard to the ambulance service saying one thing and the two paramedics saying another. Clearly the ambulance service is trying to protect its professional reputation and it appears that the paramedics will be the scapegoats.’’
Changes brought in in 2009 mean paramedics now have legal power to declare patients dead, whereas previously it was a doctor’s responsibility. Mr McGhie said that despite the changes there has been minimal training for paramedics on protocols for verification of death.
However, Mr Walker said there was a ‘‘comprehensive education package’’ and the investigation did not identify training gaps as a factor in the case.