Paramedic says he took photos of victims, posted them on Web

Authorities are investigating a Western Kentucky paramedic who took photos of injured or dead people with his cell phone camera and posted them on the Internet.

[Tacky]

So this guy takes photos of injuries belonging to the people in his ambulance? How tacky. Isn't he supposed to be taking care of the patients and making sure they don't die. I wonder if maybe during that time he was busy trying to be popular it crossed his mind that if he had not taken precious moments of time to photograph a victim, they might have survived. Not to mention the fact that what possible reason could he have to do something like this. Its not like he is a teacher and can use photos of injuries to teach up and coming medical students. So what kind of sicko takes these kinds of photos to post on the internet? And why. That's the question that should be asked. Why did he even do it?

[Luther]

This is one sick guy it makes you wonder what other kind of Pic"s he took before now what if you were just knocked out did he take your Pic then.This is one sick person. Their should be some kind of Charge for this.What kind of People would let someone they work with get by with this. And they wonder why they call people from Ky. Hillbilly"s

[Steve]

I'd like to see the pics. There is no law against taking photos, freedom of the press allows this. You can't use your anger, channeled through grief, and blame someone because your child died. The Paramedic didn't kill the young man. I agree, what he did was wrong, but you can't take it into your own hands and beat him up. That's anarchy, and I hope he sues the family!

[Straight Up]

You are right Steve. The law should not be taken into another's hands. However, a grieving parent is anything but rational. I am not condoning their behavior, but I can understand it. They are probably asking themselves if their loved one would have died had this paramedic had done his job, rather than take a photo. Emergency treatment relies on moments, precious moments that mean the difference between life and death. He had no right to take those moments to snap a photo. What he did was wrong. Being fired was the right course of action. Him being beat up was not, although understandable, as opposed to his actions which are not understandable.

Of course, now, many are asking what if. What if the only ones he posted were injuries, but had a private collection of other "types" of photos from unconcious women? To my understanding, the only ones posted were of injuries, and no ones face was posted. However, all it takes is a mark, tattoo, or scar and everyone who knows a person would know who was in the photos. John should be fired, and run out of town. He should NEVER be working in a position of trust again. As for suing the family, I hope this family sues him for violation of privacy. He had no right to do what he did.

[family]

Steve wrote:

I'd like to see the pics. There is no law against taking photos, freedom of the press allows this. You can't use your anger, channeled through grief, and blame someone because your child died. The Paramedic didn't kill the young man. I agree, what he did was wrong, but you can't take it into your own hands and beat him up. That's anarchy, and I hope he sues the family!

Would you like people looking at one of your family members that had just been killed in an accident? His parents are good people. I didn't hear anything about them blaming him for the death, just for what he did. They might want to consider a lawsuit too! This boy was my cousin. What that guy did was wrong and was also sick!

[123dude]

His parents are affiliated with the Hell's Angel's I think

[CharliesAngel]

Well it would have never happened if he had been fired the first time that he did it..So, actually the blame lies with all of those who knew he had done this at least one other time..I feel very bad for the family...and in most cases you should be able to have faith that our justice system will take care of it and do the right thing...but so much politics have corrupted alot of the courts nowdays people feel that they have to look out for themselves..they say we shouldn't use vigilante justice....well then....lets get back to innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent! Fair is fair...bottom line.

[bug]

The man is a thug. He has a oath to take care of people not exploit them. The kids parents are nice people from nice families.

[Concerned]

What is this guys name? and what county does he work in if he still works?

[Straight Up]

Concerned wrote:

What is this guys name? and what county does he work in if he still works?

His name is John, and he no longer works as a paramedic. I no longer have any contact with him via the internet after he tried to give me this sob story about how it wasn't his fault, that this guy at work "had it in for him". I hate to admit that I even knew him (internet only). So if he currently has a job, I do not know. I hesitate to post his last name though, as to be perfectly honest, anyone could read it and search him out for harm. While I don't agree with what he did, and feel it was very low of him, neither would I feel right helping anyone hurt someone else.

[harleygal]

123dude wrote:

His parents are affiliated with the Hell's Angel's I think

That's right, "you think" and you shouldn't do that again, big deal even if they are, and they aren't. They may be friends with associates, but they don't fly colors

[harleygal]

Steve wrote:

I'd like to see the pics. There is no law against taking photos, freedom of the press allows this. You can't use your anger, channeled through grief, and blame someone because your child died. The Paramedic didn't kill the young man. I agree, what he did was wrong, but you can't take it into your own hands and beat him up. That's anarchy, and I hope he sues the family!

You are a twisted person, not only did he take photos of injuries, he took photos of the3 deceased, why would you do that unless you are a sicko, that is not for him to do, just because there may not be a law against such, but he should have respect for that family and never have done such a thing. I know of the family, went to school with the father, I don't blame them for what they did, I would have stomped a mudhole in that paramedics ass!!

[A Paramedic]

Steve wrote:

I'd like to see the pics. There is no law against taking photos, freedom of the press allows this. You can't use your anger, channeled through grief, and blame someone because your child died. The Paramedic didn't kill the young man. I agree, what he did was wrong, but you can't take it into your own hands and beat him up. That's anarchy, and I hope he sues the family!

Actually, it is against the law, as a practicing paramedic he had a responsibility to protect the patients privacy under HIPPA regulations. Taking pictures is not necessarily wrong, there are times it is helpful, but not to distribute.

[Greg]

Any picture taken of a patient in an ambulance without their consent is a massive violation of their privacy and should be punished to the full extent of the law.

[A nurse]

I am shocked that it took so many comments for someone to mention HIPPA. Anyone that is involved in healthcare knows the rules and regs.

[another paramedic]

i agree with a paramedic taking pictures of the scene and of the injuries makes it easier when trying to describe it to the doctors it can help the dr. to make a prognosis and understand the reason why you are bring the pt. as long as there are no license plates or identifying characteristics of the pt. then it isn't a hippa violation and at some hospital like it when you show them just what you seen at the scene however i don't condone his actions they should never be kept after you have shown the dr. they should be deleted and never released to anyone else

[lost]

Where and when and what exactly are you talking about? I get that he took pics but he got beat up? What exactly did he take pics of?

[Miss Mamm]

Read the full story at the top of the page. The paremedic took pics of a dead kid at the scene of a car accident and posted them online. The boy's parents and a uncle beat him up.

[Agreed]

I agree!!

[JAMES]

Only idiots from kentucky do things like this.