The Detroit EMS Saga continues to get more interesting as we watch the system fall to pieces before our very eyes. Most of you probably heard about the infamous 20 minute response that possibly resulted in the death of a patient, and as it turns out, the blame is being shifted on to the crew. Their termination from employment has sparked quite the up-roar amongst fellow EMS professionals and citizens from that community. But that’s not the reason for this article. I’m not going to voice an opinion on the matter because I don’t know all the details surrounding the situation. What I do know is that the EMT made a huge mistake going on camera to talk about that call.

After watching the video I turned on my stop watch to count the amount of time it takes for a privacy law suite to be filled for an obvious HIPAA violation. By going on national TV and talking about details surrounding the call, he not only put himself but the entire Detroit EMS service in harms way. That was a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, no no. Being that the call itself made national headlines makes it extremely easy to reference the call, and the individual involved with his comments. I get the frustration, and I understand why he did it, but it was a bad move.

As medical professionals, we really have to watch ourselves when it comes to talking in front of a camera. This is why services like the one I work for prohibit us from speaking to the media at all. Just because he isn’t employed anymore, doesn’t mean he won’t get nailed with a hefty fine. If nothing else, he now has less protection then he did before the termination.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that nothing happens to this EMT as a result of his statements, but I’m not exactly holding my breath.