Video Recording on EMS Units

Today’s burning question: My fire department is installing video cameras on each ambulance, covering both inside the cab and box, and outside as well. Is this is legal? I think the administration is merely trying to spy on us and ...

Fire Lawyer Sues FDNY for Release of Medical Information

A former FDNY firefighter and now practicing attorney, Peter J. Gleason, has filed a comprehensive, 18-page lawsuit in Federal court against City of New York, FDNY, former Battalion Chief George Belnavis, Lieutenant Edward Boles, Fire Marshal Brian Grogan , Captain ...

Ohio Fire Chief Files Second Lawsuit Over Confidentiality Breach

An Ohio fire chief has filed a second lawsuit against her former employer alleging breach of a confidentiality agreement contract and intentional infliction of severe emotional distress. Former Litchfield Township fire chief Joyce Teodecki filed the lawsuit in Medina County ...

Clark County Firefighter Takes Aim at County for Sick Leave Defamation

A Clark County, Nevada firefighter who was terminated last year for abusing his sick leave, has filed a Federal lawsuit against the county alleging Family Medical Leave Act violations, defamation, invasion of privacy and due process violations. Donald Munn was ...

Medical Confidentiality: Off-Duty Threats

I received an interesting question – for today’s burning question: If an EMS crew is called to the home of an off-duty firefighter and she is drunk, suicidal and threatening to harm her husband, can the crew inform a supervisor? ...

Facebook Claims Another Victim

An EMS lieutenant is in hot water with FDNY over a photo he posted on his Facebook page. Lt. Michael Palleschi, a 12-year veteran, apparently found a patient’s chief complaint so amusing, that he photographed the on-board mobile data terminal ...

Copy Machines Pose a Major Risk of Confidentiality Breaches

A recent CBS News expose on the potential security problems associated with copy machines should be of concern to every fire and EMS organization in the country. The potential for violations of patient and employee confidentiality are enormous, not to ...

Release of Random Drug Testing Results Raise HIPAA Challenge

Fire Lieutenant Shawn Baptist was fired last year from the Zephyrhills, Florida Fire Department after he allegedly failed a random drug test on February 23, 2009. He is challenging the termination as well as the results of the test through ...

Firefighter and ACLU Sue Town for Privacy Violation

On December 4, 2009, the RI affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Johnston firefighter against the town and its police chief, alleging that the release of the firefighter's driver's license information ...

President Signs 2009 Ryan White Act Into Law

Today, October 30, 2009, President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, into law, effectively extending the law that would have expired in December, 2009, for four more years. The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency ...