FAIRFIELD TWP. — A police report indicating life squad members had mistaken a man for a pregnant woman was the result of a joke played by a member of the township's life squad.

The life squad member called police after an April 14 run from Speedway at 3450 Tylersville Road to Mercy Hospital Fairfield and said a patient who appeared to be a pregnant female turned out to be a man who was depressed and "just wanted to go the hospital."

According to police reports, the same life squad member again contacted police on Wednesday, April 16, this time to advise them the initial update was "only meant to be a joke and the patient was in fact a girl."

The life squad member told police he did not know an actual police report was going to be filed about the incident.

Township Administrator Michael Rahall said Assistant Fire Chief Paul McKendry is heading an investigation into four possible violations of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act as a result of the incident.

McKendry spoke with the parties involved and the department is in the process of issuing reprimands, Rahall said.

In addition, McKendry instructed Capt. Jim Coggin to provide a refresher class in HIPAA policy to all fire department employees sometime in the next week, Rahall said.

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