Letter of the Week

I am not surprised that Daily Pilot columnist and former Judge Robert

Gardner (“It’s not a good idea to insult a paramedic,” June 20) had a

good experience with the Newport Beach paramedics. They do a great job.

My reading of his experience with the Santa Ana paramedics is that he

received good care that time also, but it was not as obvious.

The diagnosis of chest pain like Gardner’s is difficult, even for

physicians in emergency departments. Many individuals undergo a stress

test or even coronary angiography, in which dye is injected to outline

the coronary arteries to determine if they have heart disease.

Unfortunately, over the years many people have died from heart attacks

thinking they had a simple stomach ache or esophageal pain.

The Santa Ana paramedics who treated Gardner did exactly what they

were trained to do: suspected the worst and treated for that.

There is no way to be sure a patient in the field is not having a

heart attack; they need a physician evaluation, and usually

electrocardiograms, blood tests and perhaps other exams, as well.

I can personally attest that the Santa Ana paramedics are both highly

skilled and professional, and I have nothing but respect for them. It is

true they have different challenges than the medics in Newport Beach, but

it is a credit to them and the Santa Ana Fire Department that they manage

that challenge so well.

By the way, I know the paramedic who treated Gardner, and he’s not

ugly. I think he has rugged, fireman good looks!

BRUCE HAYNES

Medical director

Orange County Emergency Medical Services

Santa Ana