Paramedic flips hospice patient off stretcher — VIDEO
A former Florida paramedic might be facing charges after a video released by the State Attorney’s Office showed him flipping a patient off his stretcher in February.
Kenneth Hallenbeck will enter a plea on June 22, WTSP reported, but it is unknown if he will face a felony charge.
“Based on the victim’s medical condition, which is confidential, it is unclear if he meets the criteria of a ‘disabled adult’ necessary to support a felony charge,” said Gary Beatty, Assistant State Attorney.
Hallenbeck is seen in the video flipping 49-year-old hospice patient James Slater off his stretcher after Slater refused to move off it while waiting in the emergency room of Wuesthoff Hospital.
Hallenbeck was charged February 25 with elderly or disabled abuse, but the State Attorney’s Office said Friday the charges were reduced to culpable negligence.
After a disciplinary hearing in March, Hallenbeck was fired from his job, ClickOrlando.com reported.
Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva