Emergency services and confidentially clauses

The Muppet · 01-05-2010 06:21PM

sam34 wrote: »

thats irrelevant

if the op is to be believed, then her uncle, the paramedic, breached patient confidentiality

it doesnt matter if it was known worldwide that gerry ryan was dead, one of the healthcare workers looking after him went blabbing about it to his family

that sort of tittle-tattle is frankly disgusting

I agree. I have huge respect for the people manning our emergency services but if this turns out as it appears there is gross misconduct on the part of the paramedic involved.

The Op on Boards information was so specific that it will be very easy to find out the truth if it is pursued. Comments like" I would hope all paramedics involved will deny any knowledge and that this will be put to bed. " are not very clever given the circumstances.

coolmoose · 01-05-2010 08:51PM

Deleted User wrote: »

like I said before, the very first post read like this:

It's not speculation, it's fact. All this talk of "hush up, hush up" sounds like closed shop talk to me. It's too late for that, and closing shop is wrong anyways.

it's not fact...it's a post by someone on the internet...you obviously assume everyone is honest and upfront on the web...to say that it's fact, well that's just plain stupid.

there's no closed shop talk, just don't jump the gun when you don't know the full story or the facts...and you don't! neither do I by the way. But the OP could be anybody, who's uncle may be a Paramedic...or may not be.

edit: As regards being "picked up" by the ambulance, it's not common practice for the HSE or DFB Ambulance Services to move remains that are not in public view (i.e. on a street etc.), this is mostly performed by undertakers. Remains would also not be moved until the Gardai were satisfied there was no foul play involved.

emtrgnmb · 01-05-2010 11:41PM

PHECC are the Irish EMS regulator, and maintain the register of pre-hospital care practitioners, which includes paramedics.

Quote from their Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics:

Maintain confidentiality

Each PHECC registered practitioner shall:
5.1 maintain strict professional confidentiality with all information acquired in the course of professional duties. Except
where:

o necessary to impart health/personal information in the course of duty/continuum of care and/or

o required by law.
5.2 manage with strict confidentiality all patient records, paper and electronic format

5.3 maintain strict confidentiality when conducting research.

Lets hope he heard it on the news and text her.

smokie2008 · 01-05-2010 11:46PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The very first post read like this:

The mods have removed that piece of text, but it won't be lost.

The issue isn't that the niece/nephew posted it here.

It will be that she received a text saying Gerry Ryan was dead.

Let this be a lesson to all of you.

Patient confidentiality means you tell names to no one.

Not your siblings, or their children.

Not your parents.

Not your spouse.

No one.

Does that mean you can't talk about it? Of course not. But remember, no matter who it is, before the public knew someone, the family knew. So it's right that the family know, before the public.

I agree, thats the first thing I thought when I read the thread, like the kids probably didnt even know yet here is an ambulance crews niece/nephew on borads saying he's dead. Not right!!!

Atlantic Dawn · 02-05-2010 12:05AM

smokie2008 wrote: »

I agree, thats the first thing I thought when I read the thread, like the kids probably didnt even know yet here is an ambulance crews niece/nephew on borads saying he's dead. Not right!!!

Yes and it's going to hit the fan when a simplistic investigation will ask for records from the paramedics mobile phones and if it was a text they sent they are finished as the record will be held and if a call was made it will cloud suspicion over them.

bravestar · 02-05-2010 12:58AM

Deleted User wrote: »

like I said before, the very first post read like this:

It since got edited out by mods, but it was too late.

It's not speculation, it's fact. All this talk of "hush up, hush up" sounds like closed shop talk to me. It's too late for that, and closing shop is wrong anyways.

While I have not read the original post, the snippet that you posted, if you actually look at what was said, they stated that Gerry Ryan was dead and that their Uncle picked him up in an ambulance. There is no mention that the poster's Uncle told the poster that Gerry Ryan was dead.

Terrontress · 02-05-2010 01:19AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Yes and it's going to hit the fan when a simplistic investigation will ask for records from the paramedics mobile phones and if it was a text they sent they are finished as the record will be held and if a call was made it will cloud suspicion over them.

Anyone whose phone has sent a text to a mobile whose owner posts on boards using the name ash xxx will be fired. Is that what you propose?

Firstly, I'd be surprised if they are able to take his phone records and secondly, tying back a mobile number to a boards poster will be impossible. If this is to be a major issue I'm sure he'll delete his sent items. Or one of them.

Paulzx · 02-05-2010 08:01AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Yes and it's going to hit the fan when a simplistic investigation will ask for records from the paramedics mobile phones and if it was a text they sent they are finished as the record will be held and if a call was made it will cloud suspicion over them.

Phecc have no power to obtain phone records of private individuals. The gardai will have no cause to as no laws that i'm aware of have been broken.

There is a big difference between a code of conduct and criminal law.

To say someone is "finished" is a complete over hyping of the situation.

If someone has acted unappropriately it is obvious that they were foolish and wrong. To start expecting phone records to be obtained is to equate their actions to some sort of gangland murder.

coolmoose · 02-05-2010 10:31AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

when a simplistic investigation will ask for records from the paramedics mobile phones

a simplistic investigation involving phone records? :eek: this isn't CSI now at all, it's a huge legal process to get phone records as part of an investigation!

this thread is typical of the lynch mob mentality that's prevalent on boards these days. none of you know ANYTHING about the incident, none of you know ANYTHING about the OP, yet you accept her post as 100% the truth.

quite frankly the willingness of posters here to accept the OPs post as "fact" is utterly astounding...not everything you read on the internet is true! :rolleyes:

anyway, back to your pitchforks!

FromwhereI · 02-05-2010 10:33AM

Paramedics are bound by strict rules of confidientality same as all health care professionals and would be in huge trouble for sending a text like that.
The news reports said he was 'picked up' by the coroners ambulance. It's a van you see driving around Dublin with green lights.
I don't know who mans that. All their patients are dead so they are not paramedics.

paraletic · 02-05-2010 01:53PM

FromwhereI wrote: »

Paramedics are bound by strict rules of confidientality same as all health care professionals and would be in huge trouble for sending a text like that.
The news reports said he was 'picked up' by the coroners ambulance. It's a van you see driving around Dublin with green lights.
I don't know who mans that. All their patients are dead so they are not paramedics.

those vans are driven by undertakers (i think), hopefully then its a bit of a misunderstanding (and no healthcare worker blabbed first) caused by labeling a hearse as an ambulance!

great thread though, interesting moral descusion!:D

Hooch · 02-05-2010 03:52PM

Right guys....no more talk about G Ryans incident. Next one is on a direct infraction and then temp ban. Its an on going incident and the poor man hasnt been laid to rest yet.

(as one last opinion if the Paramedic did blab I hope hes dragged before the PHECC fitness to practice committee!!)

This thread can continue as it is a good topic. I however reserve the right to delete posts at a later stage that have already been posted in regards G Ryan.

All incidents should be "made up" ones;)