A JURY yesterday heard the moment a paramedic allegedly refused to resuscitate a dying man then instructed a colleague to lie to cover his tracks.
A recording of a 999 call captured the disturbing sound of a 30-stone heart-attack victim collapsing in front of Karl Harris, who allegedly stopped a colleague going to his aid with the words: "Don't bother. There's no point." Experienced paramedic Harris then ordered his trainee crewmate: "Just say he was dead when we got here."
Harris, 45, from Brighton, East Sussex, sat impassively in the dock as the recording was played at Lewes Crown Court yesterday, where he denies perverting the course of justice. The jury was told that even though Harris broke guidelines by failing to try to save Barry Baker, 59, he narrowly avoided prosecution over his death because it was "highly unlikely" resuscitation would have saved him.
Harris and trainee Ben Stokes, 36, were dispatched to the former Jobcentre worker's home in Brighton in the early hours of November 29, 2008, after he dialled 999 suffering breathing difficulties, the court was told.Unknown to the pair, emergency operator Marilyn Benson stayed on the line and listened to events as they unfolded.
Harris has been suspended from his job with South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Mr Stokes was given a written warning and put on restrictive duties.
The case continues.
Source: Daily Express
1 comment:
This paramedic was obviously a public danger and was rightly grassed up by his colleagues.
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