Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Goings said he has
requested another hearing with the trustees.
NEW SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Township trustees authorized Fire Chief Brian Hughes to write a letter of reprimand to Phil Goings, a second lieutenant in the township’s Emergency Medical Service, for his actions during a March 8, 2007, emergency call.
In the letter, Hughes states that Goings did not give a patient the opportunity to refuse a cervical collar, and that he was “verbally gruff” with her and threatened to withhold future service from her.
Goings also was reprimanded for failing to observe the township rules and protocols in several other aspects in the matter. The letter states that if there are any further incidents, Goings will be dismissed.
Goings, a 30-year veteran of the EMS, said Monday the patient was given an opportunity to refuse the cervical collar, a device used to protect the neck if there is a possibility of spinal injury. He said once the collar was on, it was his duty, according to township protocol, to do everything he could to protect the patient. He said if there is a spinal column injury, the collar could be the only thing protecting the patient from “grievous injury.” He said the device is uncomfortable and some patients become claustrophobic in it.
He said that regarding the charge of gruffness, he said he made the comment within his last 45 seconds with the woman after spending two hours with her.
Goings said he believes he was singled out for a reprimand by Hughes because “I stand up to him.”
He added that he refused to attend the hearing that resulted in the letter of reprimand because he was not informed of the allegations against him ahead of time.
He said he has sent a letter requesting another hearing with trustees. He said that now that he knows the allegations, he has information in his defense. But he said he has received no reply from trustees.
Trustees authorized the letter in March but did not release it for six months because they wanted to seek a prosecutor’s opinion on whether its contents could be made public.