By Tammy O'Reilly
AN initial departmental inquiry into the actions of an ambulance crew, who failed to assist a homeless man who later died, has found that the paramedics were negligent.
The Emergency Management Services (EMS) crew was dispatched to President Street in downtown Johannesburg on Tuesday, 21 September in response to a report that a homeless man had collapsed on the pavement.
CCTV cameras in the vicinity captured the ambulance crew propping the man up against a wall and leaving without rendering further assistance.
The man was found dead the next morning.
The paramedics, Adriaan Jacobus Craukamp and Johan Erasmus, were suspended immediately after the incident was reported, pending the internal investigation.
Statements from six witnesses including the two suspended EMS staff members were presented to the board of inquiry headed by EMS divisional chief Vernon Coby and director of operations David Tembe.
In a statement released by the City's communication department on Friday, 1 October, the board of inquiry declared: "They were found to have conducted themselves in a disgraceful and dishonest manner prejudicial to good proper working of the Council services."
The statement continued: "There are operational set standards personnel must follow and there is no indication that the procedures were observed in this particular incident. The ambulance crew even failed to transport the patient to hospital."
A formal disciplinary tribunal is expected to take place on October 10.
Meanwhile, the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA), which was forwarded a report of the preliminary inquiry, announced on Monday that it was instituting its own probe into the matter.
HPCSA said in a statement that it was extremely concerned about this incident and would be conducting its investigation in terms of the HPCSA disciplinary procedure as all practitioners registered with the HPCSA are bound by a code of ethical and professional behaviour.
"We would like to urge patients to assist us in exposing emergency care practitioners who make themselves guilty of malpractice or unprofessional conduct by submitting formal complaints to the HPCSA," said Lloyd Christoper, chairperson of the Professional Board for Emergency Care Practitioners.
Complaints can be sent to HPCSA on 012 328 4895 or 012 338 9419.
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