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State: Nearly 200 EMTs Falsified Re-Certifications

Massachusetts public health officials say nearly 200 emergency medical technicians and paramedics are working without proper re-certification.

The extent of the problem was revealed during the past month after the Department of Public Health investigated tips that a number of EMTs and paramedics from Massachusetts and New Hampshire were getting documentation from certificate mills without attending the required classes.

DPH Commissioner John Auerbach says the EMTs and paramedics had been certified, but lied about taking a required re-certification course.

DPH spokeswoman Jennifer Manley said that those who have been caught were still qualified medical professionals, but they were banned from providing any more treatment until they were re-certified.

"In no instance is there an indication that the health of any residents who were calling 911 or EMTs was threatened as a result of this falsification of training," Auerbach said.

Added Auerbach, "We will be working with the ambulance companies to clarify if there's any reason to believe that there was ever any risk to the public, but we have not heard any instance of that."

Auerbach says the department is considering suspending licenses of anyone who bought phony certifications.

This program aired on May 26, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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