11 September 2024 | 06:59

Paramedic redirects patient to clinic and faces legal consequences

©️ Tengrinews.kz / Turar Kazangapov

Tengrinews.kz - A paramedic from the emergency service in Kazakhstan has been taken to court for misrepresenting a patient’s symptoms.

The court in Kosshy city heard a criminal case against the paramedic, who worked at the "103" emergency call center. She was charged with professional negligence, which resulted in severe harm to a patient’s health (Article 317, Part 2 of the Criminal Code).

According to court statements, a dispatcher at the emergency service received a call from a patient with a history of hypertension, who complained of chest pain. The call was categorized as a high-priority emergency and transferred to the paramedics in Kosshy.

However, upon receiving the call, paramedic "S" downgraded the emergency from the first to the fourth category and inaccurately recorded the patient’s symptoms as "high fever, illness for more than a week, severe cough." The patient was then referred to a local clinic rather than receiving immediate emergency assistance. A paramedic from the clinic later visited the patient, administered an injection, and left. The patient, however, was forced to travel to a hospital in Astana for further treatment. At the hospital, the patient was diagnosed with a heart attack, requiring emergency stenting and treatment for cardiogenic shock.

Photo by the press service of the Akmola region court

The court found paramedic "S" guilty, with the evidence supported by expert opinions, testimonies from the victim and witnesses, and legal documents prohibiting such changes in emergency categorization.

Taking into account that the offense was committed through negligence and considering the defendant's pregnancy as a mitigating factor, the court sentenced her to 1 year and 6 months of restricted freedom, along with probationary supervision and a ban on providing medical services.

Additionally, the court issued a formal notice to the Akmola regional health department, highlighting significant violations of medical protocols by emergency service personnel.

The court hearing was held in the presence of staff from the regional emergency medical station, as well as employees from the Kosshy clinic and the "Akmol" substation. The ruling has not yet come into effect.

Court Akmola Oblast Paramedic Criminal case

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