RI EMTs reinstated after baby with pulse reportedly placed into biohazard bag before death

Two EMTs that saw a license of theirs suspended after the death of a baby have both been reinstated.

The R.I. Department of Health this month found no evidence of professional misconduct against one of the EMTs and the complaint was dismissed.

The second EMT has been reinstated but is on probation. He will be taken off of probation on August 1st, 2023, if all conditions between him and RIDOH are met.

The two men came before the Rhode Island Department of Health with the organization alleging that they had engaged in behavior that constituted “cause” for taking action against their Emergency Medical Technicians Cardiac license.

According to the initial investigation into the death of a baby on August 1, it was discovered that the Woonsocket EMTs arrived at a residence at 12:18 p.m.; after arriving at 12:23 p.m., a newborn baby was located in a bathroom toilet having been recently delivered, with the maternal umbilical cord intact. One of the EMTs clamped the umbilical cord, cut it, and left the baby in the toilet to escort the baby’s mother out of the bathroom to the living room. An EMT returned to the bathroom and removed the baby from the toilet and determined the baby did not have a brachial pulse present and also determined there was no movement of the baby’s limbs after tapping the feet.

An EMT then wrapped the baby’s body in a towel and placed it into a biohazard bag, which then was placed behind the mother on the ambulance stretcher. The mother and baby were transported to Landmark Medical Center. The baby was left in the ambulance in the biohazard bag with another Woonsocket Fire Department member. After the emergency department physician inquired about the baby, an EMT escorted the emergency department charge nurse to the ambulance to retrieve the baby. Upon returning to the emergency department, it was determined the baby demonstrated a palpable pulse and hospital emergency department staff attempted resuscitation. Resuscitative efforts were later ceased, and death was pronounced by the attending physician.