An EMT punches a psychiatric patient

Read the article.

“Defend yourself” is one thing, “revenge yourself” another. The patient was locked down and defenseless, and posed no ability – other than spitting – to cause harm.

But the point that scalpel makes is a good one. What if it’s a situation where the patient decides it’s a good idea to punch the medic? What if the patient pulls the IV standard off a gurney and uses it as a club? Can a medic defend themselves then? Not according to the author of this article.

I suppose that, as long as we allow medics to refuse to treat a violent patient – and give them appropriate legal safeguards to protect them in court and against adminstrators – then the proposition that Kevin puts forth is reasonable. But until then a blanket policy of “no self-defense under any circumstances” is unreasonable.

The article notes that the patient was positioned supine instead of prone against the advice of the medical staff at the facility.

You may feel like punching a nutjob who can’t control themselves because they spit on you, but you can’t do that. You protect yourself from spit, is what you do.

That’s what security is for. Let them choke the guy to deat for all I care. Then it’s “in the line of duty”. But you can’t touch them. I actually saw a nurse walk into the nurse managers office last week at my inner city ER and say “I have a license to carry”. Why can’t I keep my weapon on me in the waiting room triage?

BS. There is no security on the back of an ambulance. If the guy had a knife and stabbed the paramedic, would you see my point?

Stab.
“Security!”
Stab.
“SECURITY!”
Stab.

At some point, you certainly CAN punch the guy. You just don’t think spitting is as bad as stabbing. Maybe it isn’t, but maybe it is.

It’s a gamble. Spit in someones face and perhaps they are feeling angelic and turn the other cheek. Maybe they had a bad day and the spitter just happens to be the 27th person to push your button, which just happens to be one time too many.

Because getting punched in the face is a perfectly conceivable risk associated with spitting in a persons face, then very likely the person doing the punching has a valid excuse for responding in the manner the spitter expected. If the would be spitter wanted a different reaction, then he would not have spit. If the spitter claims that his actions were the result of forces/mental state beyond his control, then the hitter gets the same pass.

Pets can’t transmit hepatitis C. But if your pet tiger or boa had the vet by the throat, it would likely receive much worse than a punch. Bad analogy.

Maybe it would have been better to shoot the guy with a tranquilizer dart before entering the cell, like a vet would do. Of course if the guy fell and hurt himself, or got oversedated, then there would be a big stink too.

Of course paramedics aren’t veterinarians or physicians. They are hard working, underpaid, good-hearted people who deserve our respect for what they do.

I am sorry but as a paramedic myself and also a Martial Arts Instructor, there are avoidances as well as tactics in defending ones self. I have been punched at, kicked at and spit at by patience in the past and know that if it was not for my training I could have been seriously hurt. It is up to the service and individual in not only becoming proficient in their medic duties but also self preservation. Last but not least, make sure distance and escape route is a part of every call.