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Sun Mar 21 01:13:37 GMT 2010

>From another list 
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Every day across Louisiana, firefighters are busy  
battling
blazes and, in some cases, saving lives.

Soon, firefighters  may take on a new role if lawmakers in Baton Rouge 
approve a
new proposed  bill.

"It would be firefighters practicing medicine without oversight …  no 
oversight
by the gubernatorial-by the gubernatorial-<WBR>approved EMS commission," 

Saussy heads up all emergency medical services in Orleans  Parish. She said
proposed House Bill 1030, written by state Rep. Karen St.  Germain from the 
Baton
Rouge area, makes all firefighters exempt from any  medical or emergency
oversight when they're at a scene.

What that  means, she said, is that firefighters could give medical care and
there  wouldn't be anyone looking over their shoulder.

"I don't think a single  person in Louisiana wants an unregulated person 
coming
in their home and  responding to a medical emergency," Saussy said. "I think
people expect us to  oversee the quality of care they receive."

The Louisiana State Firemen's  Association said Saussy is using scare 
tactics.
Nick Felton, who represents  the association in New Orleans, said that what 
the
doctor is saying is  "boogie man stuff, not fact."

Felton went on to say that "the intent of  the legislation is that we don't 
need
the EMS board in on our discipline. A  lot of the firefighters think they 
treat
us like criminals, like we're always  wrong."

Felton said the bill has the utmost of every major Firemen's  Association 
in the
state. Saussy hopes lawmakers vote it down.

"What  are they thinking? They can't practice medicine in the state of  
Louisiana
without answering to someone," Saussy said.Copyright 2010 by  WDSU.com

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