A recent article details how a Chicago ambulance got lost while transporting the only marathon runner who died during the heat wave incident in early October. While it hasn't been confirmed if the patient, who suffered from cardiac arrest, would have survived if the ambulance stayed en route, many now question if there was gross negligence.

"Every medical provider fears making an error that harms a patient. The possibility of criminal prosecution adds to those fears."

Mike McEvoy wrote this in his August 2007 column. With a legal system able to charge doctors, nurses and paramedics with malpractice, one has to question, is the system fair? Are mistakes simply mistakes? Or are huge consequences just part of the job? And should mistakes in the field be excused if paramedics did all they could at the time?

Edited: 10/25/2007 at 1:46 PM by ForumAdmin