— A Hillsborough County Administrator said the paramedics violated three areas of standard procedure.
TAMPA, Fla. — Four paramedics were suspended after violating three areas of standard procedure during a 911 call for a woman who was showing symptoms of a stroke.
Tampa Bay Times reported that the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue paramedics responded to a call on July 4 about Crystle Galloway, who had recently given birth via cesarean section and was exhibiting signs of a stroke.
The paramedics helped carry the woman from her third-floor residence to her mother’s car, later telling officials that Sheriff’s deputies on the scene had told them Galloway’s mother, Nicole Benhamou, wanted to drive her daughter to the hospital herself.
Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said the paramedics failed to provide care to the woman and violated three areas of standard care:
- They failed to properly assess the patient, taking no vitals
- They allowed the patient to leave without executing an informed refusal for transport
- The fire medics failed to properly document the true nature of the call
“Our fire medics did not do their job,” Merrill said.
Galloway’s mother drove her to the hospital. From there she was airlifted to another hospital, where she later died.
The paramedics were placed on administrative leave with pay last week and a disciplinary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 31.
“I cannot trust these individuals to work under my medical license,” said Michael Lozano, Fire Rescue medical director, in a statement. “I feel they do not meet the minimum standards set by myself and the department.”
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