Paramedic Discipline Haphazard

This 2007 investigation examined breakdowns in oversight of paramedics and emergency medical technicians in California's huge emergency medical network. We built a database with every paramedic discipline case recorded by the state agency charged with regulating the rescuers. We also built a similar database of people licensed as emergency medical technicians by county authorities and uncovered the same types of oversight problems. Our findings were acknowledged by state and local medical officials and helped prompt changes in the system.