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Aid for first responders with PTSD?

Stuart News - 12/5/2017

"Unfortunately, time has slipped through our hands."

Amanda Murdock

Husband has to give up career over PTSD

Stephen Murdock Jr. spent 18 years as a firefighter for Indian River County Fire Rescue. He rose up within the ranks, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant.

But it didn't come without struggles: The Vero Beach resident was one of 68 firefighters who filed workers' compensation claims against the county after being exposed to black mold. While his health declined, he also was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Murdock resigned from his position last week, blaming his PTSD. Now his family hopes state lawmakers will expand worker's compensation benefits to first responders with PTSD.

Two bills to expand the benefits have been introduced in the Florida Legislature.

The first, filed by state Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, and state Rep. Robert Asencio, D-Miami, would allow first responders suffering from PTSD to receive full workers' comp benefits.

Torres filed a similar bill during this year's session, but it died.

If that bill had passed, Amanda Murdock said, her husband still could be a firefighter today. But without PTSD treatment, he made the decision to resign.

"Unfortunately, time has slipped through our hands," Amanda Murdock said.

The second bill, filed in the Senate by state Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, and in the House by state Reps. Matt Willhite, D-Wellington, and Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, provides restrictions.

If passed, the bill would expand benefits to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics who "witnessed a murder, suicide, fatal injury or child death, or arrived on a scene where mass casualties were suffered."

The first responder also must seek treatment within 15 days after the incident.

Amanda Murdock said the second bill is too restrictive, especially the 15-day deadline.

She said it's unreasonable to place those restrictions on first responders, especially considering her husband was not diagnosed with PTSD until three years ago. A single event didn't trigger him; it was a series of many, she said.

Book's bill is scheduled to be discussed Tuesday in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. Amanda Murdock said her family will address their concerns with the bill in Tallahassee.

Currently, first responders are only eligible for lost wages if their PTSD diagnosis has a corresponding physical disability. Approximately 20 percent of firefighters and paramedics have PTSD, according to the Journal of Occupational Health.

Amanda Murdock said her family also was pushing for legislation to be passed in the memory of former Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief David Dangerfield.

Dangerfield killed himself in rural Indian River County last year. His death came after he posted a note to Facebook saying PTSD "haunted" him daily.

Amanda Murdock said Dangerfield's death was a lesson for firefighters to seek treatment.

"It's a reminder that this is real. Because of his passing, more and more people are coming out and trying to take steps toward treatment," she said.

"Unfortunately, time has slipped through our hands."

Amanda Murdock

Husband has to give up career over PTSD