4: Medical, Legal, Ethical Issues & EMS Research 📚 Flashcards
Cultural Competence
The ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Ace (HIPAA)
A federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed.
Negligence
When the EMS provider is accused of unintentional harm to the patient.
Scope of Practice
Outlines the actions a provider is legally allowed to perform based on certifications/licensure.
Standard of Care
Degree of care a reasonable person with similar training and experience would provide in a similar situation.
Express Consent
i. The patient must be alert and competent.
ii. Can be given verbally or non-verbally.
Implied Consent
i. Allows assumption of consent for emergency care of an unresponsive or incompetent patient.
ii. Incompetence may be due to alcohol, drugs, head injury, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, or mental incompetency.
Minor Consent
Not considered competent to give or refuse care.
i. Implied consent can be used when a parent or guardian is not around or unable to be reached.
Involuntary Consent
This is used for mentally incompetent adults or those in the custody of law enforcement.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
Orders that are specific to resuscitation efforts and do not affect treatment before the patient enters cardiac arrest.
Good Samaritan Laws
Laws that are designed to protect those who render care without being compensated or committing gross negligence.
Criminal Liability
Laws that involve a government entity taking legal actions against a person.
Abandonment
The termination of care without transferring the patient to an equal or higher level of care.
