Landmark ruling compels HR to address mental health after firefighter's traumatic workplace events
A Pennsylvania firefighter’s fight for mental health benefits after two traumatic infant emergencies is changing the conversation around workplace PTSD for first responders.
On October 22, 2025, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a decision that could influence how HR professionals and public employers address mental health claims in high-stress jobs. The case involves Brian Ganley, a firefighter for Upper Darby Township, who developed post-traumatic stress disorder after performing unsuccessful CPR on two infants in separate incidents, 16 months apart.
Ganley’s experience highlights the challenges faced by emergency workers and the responsibilities of their employers. After the first incident in November 2018, Ganley continued working but suffered mental health symptoms related to the trauma. In May 2021, after a second infant could not be revived despite his efforts, Ganley’s symptoms intensified, leading him to leave his job. He reported anxiety, depression, anger, PTSD, loss of appetite and sleep, and nightmares.
Ganley sought workers’ compensation benefits, but the Workers’ Compensation Judge and the Appeal Board denied his claim. They found that, while tragic, performing CPR – even on infants – was not considered an “abnormal working condition” for a firefighter. The township’s fire chief testified that such events, though rare, are part of a firefighter’s...
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