Old defibrillator batteries lead to $3.2 million Chicago death settlement
This is bad news, literally. This is not a matter of a paramedic or paramedics failing to do their job. This is a matter of a system and it’s managers failing to do their job. Failing to replace batteries in a device for FIVE F&^(#$& YEARS is not negligence, it’s not gross negligence, it’s malfeasance. It’s wanton and willful misconduct. The managers responsible for this should be fired and criminally charged, but of course they won’t be. Instead the City of Chicago is going to pay out a settlement to the family.

The article says that the defibrillators (which I assume were monitor/defibrillators) were replaced a couple of months after the incident with new devices with batteries that are changed out every two years. As if before that, the batteries couldn’t be changed out. Ridiculous, of course they could. The Chicago Fire Department management just chose not to spend the money for new batteries. I’ll leave out comments about this being a fire service EMS problem because I’d bet that there are some private and third service systems that have similarly stupid purchasing philosophies.

But, she [First Deputy Corporation Counsel Karen Seimetz] said, “The problem is under the law, if there’s any percentage chance that a person could have survived but for the alleged negligence, that’s enough to recover [damages].

No counselor, the problem is that the managers of the City of Chicago Fire Department EMS Division didn’t do their jobs. To the level of a criminal act, if you were to ask me. And it’s not negligence, it’s malfeasance, pure and simple. That’s a non lawyers opinion.

I’m got ire to spare, so I’ll toss a little at the sidebar by the EMS1.com resident attorney. Counselor, counter to your advice, none of those items are the first three things I check. The first three things I check every shift are the oxygen delivery devices, the suction devices, and then the monitor/defibrillator. Not just the batteries on the last, either. I check to make sure it turns on, do a user test, check the cables and electrodes. Then the stretcher, stair chair, and other BLS equipment. THEN, I go on to the drug box, advanced airway equipment, IV supplies, medications, and so on. Remember ABCs come before ALS.

Really, if you’re going to give risk management advice, give good risk management advice.

Here’s my advice. Don’t take the off going crew’s word that “everything is all set”, since their minds are not totally focused on going home. Check for yourself. Because if the fit hits the shan, they will swear on stack of bibles that “Everything was working when we left.”