By EMS1 Staff
DUBLIN, Ireland — A National Ambulance Service paramedic refused to respond to a cardiac arrest call despite being the closest to the incident, claiming he had not had a break.
The Irish Independent reported that the paramedic was returning to base after transporting a patient to a hospital when he received a cardiac arrest call.
The paramedic claimed he had not had a break and refused to take the call. However, sources said the paramedic had recently left a McDonald’s.
The paramedic’s supervisor urged him to respond but he refused.
Angry staff members came forward with details about the incident after the same paramedic was paneled for promotion, where he will be in the position to make critical medical decisions. They are calling for a full investigation.
“It should be noted that all complaints are taken seriously and that there are internal processes and procedures for dealing with allegations of this nature,” a spokesperson for NAS said.