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(Updated)
A former Hamilton paramedic who pled guilty to failing to provide medical care to a man who later died was sentenced on Monday.
The judge sentenced Paul Zenchuk to 2 years probabtion and 200 hours of community service. The crown had been asking for 30 days in jail. Outside the courtroom, Zenchuk said he was relieved.
When leaving the courthouse today, he didn’t want to speak to us on camera and seemed quite overhwelmed.
He’s the first paramedic in Canada or the U.S. to be convicted of failing to provide proper care under the Ambulance Act. After 20 years of working as a paradmedic, he gave up his license following the death of 59-year-old Michael Farrance in 2011.
Farrance was drunk and hit his head against a wall, after being pushed into it by a Hamilton police officer. He died because his breathing was constricted. Zenchuk admitted he made a mistake and should have tended to Farrance but didn’t when police told him he was drunk and sleeping it off. He said he accepts responsibilty and will not work as a paramedic again even though he can after his two years of probation. Here’s what his lawyer had to say outside court.
Tim Hannigan, lawyer: “He feels very relieved. This has been almost four years of his life. We’ve been coming here to the court for almost two years. It’s been very difficult for him to move on given everything that’s gone on. So, he’s very relieved to be finished with this and looking forward to moving on with his life. One of the things he recognized — and I think that was important in this case — he recognized his own shortcomings. And based upon that recognition, he voluntarily decided not to practise as a paramedic again. And I think that’s certainly commendable again as part of him taking responsibility for his actions.”
Mario Posteraro, the head of the union that represents Hamilton paraemdics was also in court and says fighfighters and police who were cleared by the SIU also made mistakes that night and it’s Zenchuk who’s paying the price: “He’s gonna’ move on. Obviously, it’s an unfortunate circumstance. It’s a tragic event for both Paul, paramedics across the province, and the family of course because somebody died in the course of these unfortunate events. At the end of the day, there were other parties involved. Those were the parties that were not here today. It fell squarely on the shoulders of Paul Zenchuk. He dealt with the matter. And we’re satisfied that it’s concluded.”
The union president also said this is a wake up call for not only Zenchuk, but for all paramedics.
