Five DEHS lawyers presented a mock trial at the annual South Dakota Emergency Medical Technicians’ Association Conference held recently in Sioux Falls Convention.
The hypothetical case involved a claim against an EMT for allegedly failing to properly record the vital signs of a patient being transported to a hospital and to ensure certain equipment in the ambulance was working properly. Melissa Hinton and Mitch Peterson, members of the firm's litigation section, were the plaintiffs’ and defense lawyers, respectively. Litigation section head Ed Evans served as an expert medical witness while Amanda Smith, one of the firm's estate planning lawyers, was a lay witness. Jennifer Keating, one of the firm's business lawyers, acted as the judge. Travis Spier, a paramedic employed by Sanford USD Medical Center, played the role of the defendant.
An estimated 500 conference participants sat on the jury. The mock trial vividly emphasized the importance of proper documentation as well as the necessity of following policies and procedures in carrying out the duties of an EMT.