Overruling captain!

[u/Ok_Assistance69]

Just getting opinions here. Other night we had a well known psych patient who’s not only know to verbally accost medics/hospital staff, but can get aggressive. Delt with her multiple times where our local PD had her cuffed, hands on a taser. On scene for the THIRD time that week same patient, different captain (not mine, was working OT) and I told this captain “we’re going to need PD” Captain replied back “THIS IS NOT A PD ISSUE” very loud and aggressively I might add. I stated “she can get aggressive” he replied back “SHES NOT AGGRESSIVE”and he denied calling PD. Once she was loaded on the stretcher, she started to become verbally hostile, then and only then did the captain call PD. Then I was instructed to go to my patient. She started getting verbally hostile with me. I was told to get in the engine at this point and the other medics would run the call. PD followed the medic unit to our local ER.

Now, we all learned “BSI/scene safety” right? I always thought it was a medics discretion if it came to safety. KC firefighter died over a psychiatric patient after being stabbed by her. Another psych call, patient flew out the back doors and ended up being killed by a semi truck.

Does anyone think this needs to go up the chain? I feel mine AND my crews safety was compromised by a captain with a superiority complex and this captain has been known for his temper. His behavior was unprofessional, unacceptable and unbecoming an officer.

Opinions???

[u/Successful_Jump5531]

As a Captain myself, I'm sure you must understand the need to follow orders and the chain of command. Without them there would be chaos. And all the evils in the universe will come crashing down on your head for stepping even a fraction out of that framework....had a good laugh at that I hope

Seriously, I am a shift captain. If my partner feels we need LEO on scene, I say go ahead and call. They may be aware of something I'm not. Actually, if my partner  feels we need anything on scene, I let them call for it. ( Im really the one that would be calling in). I may not agree, but I take that up after the call.  Example: Where I'm at, for some reason, we have this person is known psychotic, has breakdowns, can actually be fairly combative and have had the PD out several times with us. Most crews still need PD. When it's my turn and show up I tell the cops they can leave. I learned that the cops don't like her so they're already annoyed at having to show up, PT doesn't like cops. Yelling and shouting starts and things get worse. Cops are getting her so upset that if she doesn't go with us, then she'll be arrested. (Most of our crews hate having to deal with her so the animosity continues)Got to the scene once, no cops ( they were tied up on other things) PT got in the truck and we left. Several times I've had to go there, I tell the cops to leave. She calms down and goes with us. She did ask me once why was I the only medic to treat her as person instead of a lowlife scumbag (her words were much more self degrading). Cause she's a person first, a person with problems. 

Actually I can't stand her either. But I was raised to treat people as I would want someone to treat my family. Makes my life easier anyway

[u/epicfartcloud → u/Successful_Jump5531]

I'm sure that a high percentage of aggressive psych patients in the US were raised on 'treat others how you'd want them to treat your family', too... the shortcoming with that strategy of telling PD they can leave (vs asking them to stay out of sight) is that some of these patients want to stab their own families repeatedly in the fucking face, and they tend to look the exact same as the ones who are legit just looking for help and not trying to hurt others.