A PARAMEDIC who chose not to treat a critically injured motorcyclist at the scene of a crash, believing the rider was dead, has escaped being struck off.
Earlier this week, the Health Professional Council, which oversees the licensing of emergency workers, heard how David Dickerson failed to follow standard life-saving procedures at the accident scene near Norwich, Norfolk.
It's reported Dickerson arrived on scene to find the male patient's eyes open and unblinking. Dickerson said the man was was not breathing, so he checked for pulses in the rider's neck and wrist but found nothing. The rider's pupils were also unresponsive. The paramedic covered the rider's body with a tarpaulin, believing he was dead.
Fifteen minutes after Dickerson's initial diagnosis, another paramedic discovered the motorcyclist was still breathing. He was finally given the appropriate medical treatment before being rushed to hospital where he died two hours later, on December 22, 2008.
The hearing was told the delay in treatment could have affected the biker's chances of survival.
HPC panel chairman Ray Pattison said that while Dickerson failed to "carry out his duties", he admitted his mistake early, reports today's Telegraph newspaper.
As a result, the panel decided not to strike him off but instead issue him with a caution.
"Mr Dickerson has further demonstrated insight into his misconduct and acknowledges his actions were wrong and not up to public standards to be expected of a health professional," he said.
