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Suppose the medical director of your Trust phoned up and asked your advice about his patient. Would you find it bizarre if, having asked he then didn't take your advice? I don't think you are in any different a situation. The ambulance officer is in charge of the scene and the disposition of casualties from the medical point of view. You are able to make suggestions, but it is his job day in, day out to organise the transport of patients, and with respect, he is likely to know as much as you do about the capabilities of various hospitals and departments. It is definitely his responsibility. You don't expect him to tell you what resources to deploy or how in your department - why should you tell him how to manage his resources? > -----Original Message----- > From: Accident and Emergency Academic List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Steve Meek > Sent: 18 March 2002 23:37 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: so who is in control at the roadside? > > > I have no interest in prehospital care other than that > I occasionally get asked to attend as leader of a team > from the local ED. > Reading the discourse on this flying squad issue, > I am wondering who is in overall control in a > situation when a team is called? the scene officer, > usually a senior ambulance officer......? if there is > a disagreement, such as the one Ray painted, who > ultimately makes the decision and carries the can? > > I have found that attending crashes is rarely useful > to the patient but thought that the one thing I could > offer is the right triage decision. A disagreement is > fine, we can discuss the options, but ultimately who > is the one who has the final say? > I would be alarmed if I could be called to the scene > (reducing the cover in the department), only for my > opinion on the safest triage decision to be overruled. > Either I am useful or not. Which is it? I came because > I was called. Are the site officers then simply > calling us in to prevent criticism for not doing so? > > If you wish to respond,keep it general, please. Again > I see local arguments on the list, which never paint > anyone in a good light > Steve Meek > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage > http://sports.yahoo.com/ >