Re: State Changes Policy After Former Mayor Taken To Hospital In SUV

[Guest guest]

So what, exactly, is the " change of policy " here? Is the whole text of the

letter available online anywhere (maybe the city of Houston?)?

Mike

State Changes Policy After Former Mayor Taken To

Hospital In SUV

Click2Houston - State Changes Policy After Former Mayor Taken To Hospital In

SUV

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State Changes Policy After Former Mayor Taken To Hospital In SUV

Mayor Brown Can't Make Medical Calls

HOUSTON, 6:04 p.m. CDT April 27, 2001 -- The State Department of

Health released its ruling Friday concerning the emergency call Mayor Lee

Brown made on behalf of former Mayor Bob Lanier in March.

What Was The EMS Ruling?

Lanier was at a speaking engagement when he began experiencing

chest pains. An ambulance was called to the scene, but when it took too much

time to get to Lanier, Brown ordered a Houston Fire Department vehicle to

take Lanier to the hospital.

The state wrote a letter and said that Brown violated emergency

medical service rules when he used the HFD vehicle because he was not

qualified to make medical decisions. The letter also said that sports

utility vehicles are not made for patient treatment.

The letter said the following: " SUV response vehicles are not

designed for patient treatment and serious problems could have resulted, had

the patient deteriorated during transport. "

The Fire Department Medical Director, Dr. Persse, said

that Brown thought he was making the right call.

" I truly believe that he thought that making the decision was

right, " Persse said. " I also believe that he didn't know at the time that

was in conflict with the rules. " The state's new policy mandated that

decisions about transporting patients in non-emergency vehicles have to be

made by Persse or one of his two deputies.

Persse said that if he was in the same situation, he would have

done the same thing that Brown did.

" If it's a medical decision, I would be very comfortable making

the decision, " Persse said. " I think that I have a strong enough

relationship with both of the gentlemen, that they would respect my

decision. "

Brown responded to the policy changes in a written statement

that said, " I didn't make a medical decision. It was a command decision for

Mayor Lanier's welfare. "

Brown said that he would be happy to comply with the policy

changes.

Copyright 2001 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This

material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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