SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A South Kingstown emergency medical technician has had his state license suspended for allegedly purchasing drugs without authorization and injecting someone with pain medications outside of work. But a judge has stayed the order, pending a state hearing.
Joseph Tedeschi of 35 Meadowbrook Way, Peace Dale, is not working on rescue duties pending that hearing, said EMS Director T. Keith Richards.
“His job is protected for now,” Richards said, adding that the alleged incidents did not occur while Tedeschi was on the job in South Kingstown.
Tedeschi has been licensed as an EMT since 1995 and works in South Kingstown and Charlestown. He also operates Festival EMS, a business that provides emergency medical services to festivals in New England.
The state Department of Health alleges that on 14 occasions, Tedeschi purchased pain medications, muscle relaxants and other drugs not part of the formulary for EMTs. They also allege he injected someone – outside of his work duties – with the pain medication Toradol.
“The board has concluded that [Tedeschi] has exceeded the scope of his authority as an Emergency Medical Technician and has substantially violated the rules and regulations which govern the practice of licensed EMTs in the state,” the suspension order reads.
Annemarie Beardsworth, spokeswoman for the Department of Health, said the judge ordered Tedeschi not to practice until the state had heard his case. A date for that hearing has not been set.
Capt. Jeffrey Allen said South Kingstown Police has no investigations pending in the case, because the alleged incidents did not occur in town. State Police have begun a criminal investigation into the matter.
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