Save a human, or the job?

cheri1122 · Jul 4, 2012

Lifeguard saves man, gets fired - Chicago Sun-Times

Jeff Ellis and Associates appears to be morally bankrupt, and I sincerely hope they lose every account they don't deserve, which is every one they have.

chefdennis · Jul 4, 2012

While i dont agree with it, it happens all the time.....

skyraider · Jul 4, 2012

chefdennis said:
While i dont agree with it, it happens all the time.....

Its all about lawsuits, money and lawyers, it always is. But every once in awhile a human being steps forward to do the right thing morally and is canned. Its the new America boys and girls, large companies just don't give a sheetze. imho, again, its all about the money, lawsuits and lawyers, tell me it is not so Joe.

BobWolf · Jul 4, 2012

I know what he is going through. A few years ago, I was on the job as a tow truck driver and provided first aid to somone who was injured hit by a car while helping somone stuck in a ditch during a snow storm just before I showed up. I was obligated as a human being and an E.M.T. / A.L.S Tech
The supervisor reamed me abbout working as a Tow truck opperator, thier liability, not working for them as a meddic, I left thier truck because I had to go on the transport due to protocall blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...... I would have suffered a severe migrane headache posiably a stroke lowering my standards to thier

level. I didnt bother to justify doing the right thing.
I resigned on the spot.
Id do it again and not loose a moments sleep.

This guy dosent deserve super hero status, but he dose deserve respect.

Bob Wolf.

layoutshooter · Jul 5, 2012

The same lawyers that are causing these problems are the ones running the country. Any wonder that we are in the mess we are in?

I have been down a similar road when I was an EMT. Made a choice on a car wreck. Treated one person over another. I had limited resources and worked on the 'most salvageable' person.

Had to go before a 'review board', I won. It's hard to 'do the right thing' with the threat of lawsuits hanging over your head on every move.

Lawyers/politicians will now be running health care. Bet you can't wait to see what happens now. MASSIVE fraud, MASSIVE cost increases, AND, exactly what you see in this case. ENJOY!

cheri1122 · Jul 5, 2012

The 'legal liability' line is BS, just subterfuge for the fact that management doesn't want their employees 'working' for those who haven't paid. Which is their right. Except when the alternative is to allow a human being to die, when there is no danger to anyone else, including the company - that trumps company policies, or we are a society gone stark raving mad.
EMTs and paramedics must perform triage as a part of the job, [you don't splint a broken bone while someone chokes to death] and a review board is a proper mechanism for ensuring that the priorities were assessed correctly - it's nothing like the situation of the lifeguard fired for trying to save the 'wrong' person.
Jeff Ellis has reconsidered, [surprise!] and offered to take the young man back, along with the others fired for simply saying they'd do the same thing. I think it's to his credit that he's declined.