Esteban Parra

The News Journal

Editor's Note: We're republishing the top stories of the last year. This was the 7th most-read story of 2017 on Delawareonline.com​

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story provided the wrong size of needle used when getting a CT scan.

Two New Castle County paramedics are under investigation for using larger needles than were necessary on patients receiving emergency medical treatment, county officials confirmed.

New Castle County Emergency Medical Services Division supervisors received information last month about the two paramedics' actions, according to Jason Miller, a spokesman for County Executive Matt Meyer.

The division contacted the State Office of Emergency Medical Services, and additional inquiries, including a review of medical records, were made.

"After that initial review, the county medical director suspended the clinical privileges of the two county paramedics," Miller said. "New Castle County has placed the two paramedics on administrative leave pending further action."

Citing the ongoing investigation, Miller would not release the names of the paramedics.

Miller said the matter has been referred to the state Division of Professional Regulation, which is conducting its own investigation. Additionally, the county has alerted the state Attorney General's Office, he said.

Based on the information county officials have at this time, the conduct involved 12 patients and did not cause injury that required medical attention. The county is making contact with the involved patients individually to inform them of the conduct.

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After The News Journal inquired about the incident, County Executive Meyer provided a comment to The News Journal:

"I learned of these allegations, and we took swift action, first by removing the paramedics involved and then launching a full investigation," he said in a statement. "Next, we are reaching out to those patients impacted and are making every effort to ensure their health and safety."

County paramedic Chief Lawrence E. Tan also issued a comment.

"The Emergency Medical Services Division removed the individuals from any further patient contact, and made notifications to the proper state authorities," he said in a statement. "We value the public's trust and will take the appropriate action to maintain the high quality of service the public expects and deserves."

Dr. Howard Mell, a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians, said the size of the needles used by paramedics is a subjective call. Paramedics tend to base the size of needles on what emergency they are responding to, as well as anticipation of what they think the patient may need at the scene and at whatever medical institution they are taken to.

"The training is to use a needle of sufficient size to be able to administer the medicine that you need to at the rate that you need to give it," Mell said, adding a larger-sized needle would allow medicine to flow faster than a smaller needle. If a patient is getting a CT scan a slightly larger catheter is used.

Mell said he was not aware of any research that suggests one needle is more dangerous than another.

"I can tell you that if you look at them, certainly some needles are much bigger than the other, and one would assume, although I can provide you no evidence whatsoever, that there would be an increase in pain," he said. "But certainly I've not seen anything that suggests that there is an increase in risk to the patient in any way other than that discomfort."

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.