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Firefighter warned he could be sacked for saving lives

8:00am Monday 11th February 2008

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A Walton firefighter has been warned he faces the sack if he uses his medical training to save injured people while carrying out fire calls.

Joe McMahon, a former paramedic who is now a firefighter based in Wimbledon, helped ambulance workers who were struggling to treat five casualties.

"I’ve been told if I try to save a dying person I will be sacked."

Joe McMahon

But instead of being praised, his employers told him he could be fired for misconduct if he used his medical training again.

After a disciplinary hearing he was told he might be sacked and sent a letter which warned: "When you are working as a London firefighter you are ordered not to give any medical treatment except first aid."

The 44-year-old told The Sun: "I've been told if I try to save a dying person I will be sacked.

"It seems to be my bosses' opinion that it is better to let someone die than p*** off their insurance brokers."

Undeterred by the warnings Mr McMahon now fears he will be sacked after he helped a four-year-old girl who had been hit by a car."

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Your Say YourWimbledon Guardian

ric, kingston says...
8:22am Mon 11 Feb 08

thats pathetic. so is this country.

we turned in to america while no one was looking.

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keith, Banstead says...
9:08am Mon 11 Feb 08

So if he wants to save lives WHY did he give up being a paramedic????

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Rachel, Epsom says...
9:15am Mon 11 Feb 08

He sounds like he is full of his own self importance!!!

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Sarah, Surrey says...
9:27am Mon 11 Feb 08

Rachel wrote:
He sounds like he is full of his own self importance!!!
What this country needs is more people like the man featured above - Those that will help those in need, & less people like you, who spout stupid "one-liners" to try & incite a row! We have way to many "jobs worths" who will stick to the letter of their contracts & will not utilise their own common sense or experiences. I praise Joe Mcmahon & all those brave guys & gals like him, who have dedicated their lives to going the extra mile! People like Rachel & Keith above make me sick!

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a mother, sutton says...
9:45am Mon 11 Feb 08

a life is worth more than anything, whenever a person can be saved they should by anyone qualified. if my child was dying and a person who could have saved her life didn't, well, it doesn't bear thinking about. too many people are more concerned with bureaucracy rather than humanity. put yourself on the ground needing help and see what your attitude would be. this guy should be praised for helping.

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George, Sutton says...
11:21am Mon 11 Feb 08

ric wrote:
thats pathetic. so is this country. we turned in to america while no one was looking.
In America The ambulance/paramedic service is run by the fire service!!

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Peter, Epsom says...
11:31am Mon 11 Feb 08

Sarah wrote:
Rachel wrote: He sounds like he is full of his own self importance!!!
What this country needs is more people like the man featured above - Those that will help those in need, & less people like you, who spout stupid "one-liners" to try & incite a row! We have way to many "jobs worths" who will stick to the letter of their contracts & will not utilise their own common sense or experiences. I praise Joe Mcmahon & all those brave guys & gals like him, who have dedicated their lives to going the extra mile! People like Rachel & Keith above make me sick!
As I understand it the Fire Service has no objection to their staff administering first aid - but anything beyond that lays them & their staff open to litigation should anything go wrong

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ric, kingston says...
12:34pm Mon 11 Feb 08

sorry george i meant turning into america by people suing people for stupid reasons. i mean its a sad state of affairs if you cant save someones life because there is a chance you will sacked, out of pocket or even in jail.

i know if im dying i'd like anyone to do anthing they can. even if its a postman.


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Adam, Brentford says...
7:09pm Mon 11 Feb 08

Rachel you sound like an imbecile.

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Olivia, surrey says...
10:06am Tue 12 Feb 08

I think if I was able to save someones life Id feel pretty important too, but it woudlnt be about me, its about the person in need of help. If this man can save a life, I dont think anyone should argue the matter.

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Jak Dyer, Brighton says...
10:07am Tue 12 Feb 08

Rachel, take your time and think before you write. People tend to help others instinctively. No broker or underwriter can ever take that from somebody. Quite in contrast to you it seems, this man acts without thought toward a positive outcome. If you dont act automatically for the greater good dont try to destroy that reaction in others. We all have to live here so lets make it as comfortable for each other as possible shall we?

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Iain, Glasgow says...
6:20pm Tue 12 Feb 08

keith wrote:
So if he wants to save lives WHY did he give up being a paramedic????
Remind me again what we in the fire service do?
Oh that's right, we save lives!

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Ant, LFB says...
12:53am Wed 13 Feb 08

I am a london firefighter and i would like to say that Peter is correct, we are only allowed to administer first-aid, any procedures beyond that level would leave us open for trouble! BUT I must stress how much i feel for the firefighter mentioned because if you are able to save a life, you would do whatever it takes.

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Andy, E.London says...
6:00am Wed 13 Feb 08

I am also a London Fire-fighter,and I totally agree with Ant. Rachel are you barking mad. your comments are so badly thought out! People in LAS & LFB do all they can to save lifes. Do you think we will just stand back and let other suffer if we possess the skills to make a difference.

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Jane, says...
8:44am Wed 13 Feb 08

I hope Rachel never needs lifesaving! I wish the best of luck to Joe Macmahon in his fight against our narrow minded gvernmental idiots.

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Ricky, Sheen says...
12:01pm Wed 13 Feb 08

Rachel, you are beneath contempt. Go and play with your toy bricks.

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Ian, York says...
4:41pm Wed 13 Feb 08

It's just great isn't it?....we have turned into a country scared of our own shadow touching someone in case they sue! OK, they are scared stiff of litigation, wouldn't it be simple enough to have the guy sign a disclaimer? After all, he IS qualified to do this.

At one time they would have upgraded this bloke and used him as an asset, then thought about doing it for all watches and crews, but then the other bugbear comes into force Funding! It's truly pathetic what is being done to this country by the "Holier than thou's" in parliament!

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Chris, USA says...
6:34pm Fri 15 Feb 08

I'm from the US and it's sad to see that we aren't the only ones who:
1. are so damned scared of getting sued that we have ridiculous rules and regulations AND
2. have people who would be ridiculous enough to sue someone for trying to save a loved one's life vs. not suing if they didn't even try because "it wasn't their job"

I applaud people like Mr. McMahon who have enough courage to put his values, decency, and common sense ahead of some rule book that a nervous underwriter put together.

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Bill Mason, Fife says...
11:42am Sun 2 Mar 08

Calm down people!

I think the point that would concern me is if someone/ anyone was to undertake an invasive and possibly life threatening clinical technique where they were no longer qualified or without recent, appropriate experience! I think we need to move on from melodrama and name calling and just understand the situation...

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