Judge reinstates EMTs accused of striking patient, questions state’s investigation
Updated Feb 11, 2021;
A state administrative law judge has reinstated the certifications of two emergency medical technicians accused last year of striking a patient in the back of an ambulance in Jersey City.
And in doing so, New Jersey Administrative Law Judge Gail M. Cookson had harsh words for the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), which suspended the licenses of James Piro and John Bonvenca last fall for the alleged July 4, 2020 incident.
In her opinion, Cookson wrote that the EMS office, in the state Department of Health, acted with a “serious lack of due process” in the case, and ordered Piro and Bonvenca’s certifications reinstated pending a final hearing.
NJ EMTs accused of punching patient in ambulance say it was self-defense ems1.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ems1.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
EMTs accused of punching a patient in their ambulance. They say he was the aggressor.
Updated Dec 17, 2020;
New Jersey health authorities have suspended the certifications of three emergency medical technicians on accusations they assaulted a combative patient by punching him several times while in the back of an ambulance in Jersey City this summer.
When the EMTs were later interviewed by their employer, RWJBarnabas Health, they denied striking the patient during the July 4, 2020 incident. However, each admitted in a second interview that they indeed punched the patient, according to the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, in the Department of Health.