Ch. 4 Flashcards
Which of the following refers to the set of regulations that defines what the AEMT is permitted to do and the limitations placed on him?
A) Scope of practice
B) Legal standards of practice
C) Protocols and standing orders
D) Professional standards
A) Scope of practice
Page Ref: 61
Objective: 4.2 Describe your responsibilities as an Advanced EMT with respect to scope of practice, standard of care, and medical direction.
The service medical director is responsible for:
A) providing direct patient care.
B) hiring EMS personnel for the service.
C) providing licensure for prehospital personnel.
D) managing inappropriate medical conduct by service AEMTs.
D) managing inappropriate medical conduct by service AEMTs.
Page Ref: 62
Objective: 4.2 Describe your responsibilities as an Advanced EMT with respect to scope of practice, standard of care, and medical direction.
Your patient is a 40-year-old known diabetic who was found unconscious at work by a coworker. What type of consent allows you to treat this patient?
A) Consent for treatment of minor emergencies
B) Consent for mentally incompetent adults
C) Expressed consent
D) Implied consent
D) Implied consent
Page Ref: 63
Objective: 4.10 Given a scenario, determine the type of patient consent that applies.
Your patient is a 45-year-old man suffering from chest pain. Upon arrival, the patient is pale, sweaty, and short of breath. The patient is angry with his daughter for calling 911. He says that he had some spicy sausage for breakfast and has indigestion. Which of the following is an appropriate means of getting the patient the care he needs?
A) Try to find out why the patient does not want to go to the hospital so you can respond to his objections and possibly get him to consent going to the hospital.
B) Call the patient’s neighbors and tell them that you have been called to the patient’s house, but he is now refusing care.
C) Inform the patient that if he does not agree to treatment, you will have to take him against his will because he has a potentially life-threatening problem.
D) Tell the patient that his pain is likely caused by his diet, then suggest he take an antacid and go to bed.
A) Try to find out why the patient does not want to go to the hospital so you can respond to his objections and possibly get him to consent going to the hospital.
Page Ref: 63
Objective: 4.12 Apply the concept of the right to self-determination to issues of consent and advance directives.
The branch of philosophy that tries to answer questions about notions of what is good and bad and what is right and wrong is called:
A) morality.
B) ethics.
C) libel.
D) justice.
B) ethics.
Page Ref: 60
Objective: 4.1 Define key terms introduced in this chapter.
Which of the following provides some protection from liability for emergency care provided in good faith?
A) Code of Ethics
B) Malpractice Act
C) Good Samaritan law
D) Emergency Care statute
C) Good Samaritan law
Page Ref: 71
Objective: 4.7 Describe the purpose of and typical protections afforded by Good Samaritan laws.
You are called to treat a 65-year-old man who has collapsed and is complaining of chest pain, which you suspect is of cardiac origin. Which of the following BEST illustrates failure to meet the standard of care?
A) Starting an IV on the patient
B) Obtaining a set of vital signs
C) Failing to administer nitroglycerin
D) Administering aspirin
C) Failing to administer nitroglycerin
Page Ref: 69
Objective: 4.8 Given a scenario, identify circumstances that may allow a claim of negligence to be established.
Which of the following would be an example of res ipsa loquitur?
A) You leave a patient at the hospital without giving a patient care report to the nurse.
B) You deliver 50% dextrose to a patient through a vein that is not patent, which causes tissue damage.
C) You fail to respond when dispatched to a wreck on the interstate.
D) You refuse to transport a patient who you think has AIDS.
B) You deliver 50% dextrose to a patient through a vein that is not patent, which causes tissue damage.
Page Ref: 69
Objective: 4.6 Give examples of legal situations involving tort and criminal issues.
You arrive at a scene where a 24-year-old male patient has suffered a broken arm from a bicycle accident. He is in a great deal of pain, but refuses treatment and transport. Under the law, you must honor his decision if he:
A) is mentally competent and understands what he is doing.
B) is free of any life-threatening injuries or conditions.
C) signs a form releasing the AEMT from liability.
D) has a witness to the refusal of treatment form.
A) is mentally competent and understands what he is doing.
Page Ref: 62
Objective: 4.10 Given a scenario, determine the type of patient consent that applies.
Which of the following BEST indicates that informed consent has been obtained?
A) The AEMT administers oxygen because the patient has chest pain and shortness of breath.
B) The patient agrees to oxygen therapy after being told it will decrease his chest pain.
C) The AEMT tells the patient that all patients are given oxygen.
D) The patient doesn’t want oxygen but the AEMT tells him he has to have it.
B) The patient agrees to oxygen therapy after being told it will decrease his chest pain.
Page Ref: 63
Objective: 4.10 Given a scenario, determine the type of patient consent that applies.
Stopping care without ensuring that another appropriately credentialed health care provider will take over care is called:
A) neglect.
B) refusal.
C) battery.
D) abandonment.
D) abandonment.
Page Ref: 65-66
Objective: 4.13 Describe how to avoid claims of assault, battery, abandonment, false imprisonment/kidnapping, and defamation.
Negligence is based on duty to act, breach of duty, damages, and:
A) proximate cause.
B) termination of care.
C) expressed consent.
D) liability.
A) proximate cause.
Page Ref: 69
Objective: 4.9 Discuss several ways to defend yourself against claims of negligence.
In which of the following cases would there be a case for negligence based on cause of damages?
A) You drop a patient from a stretcher but he wasn’t injured.
B) You start an IV which causes an infection, and the patient has to have surgery to repair it.
C) The patient suffered a spinal injury from an MVC, but he refused spinal immobilization.
D) A CHF patient has difficulty breathing and has to be intubated at the hospital but does not survive.
B) You start an IV which causes an infection, and the patient has to have surgery to repair it.
Page Ref: 69
Objective: 4.9 Discuss several ways to defend yourself against claims of negligence.
Telling a patient that you will stick him with a really big needle if he doesn’t settle down is an example of:
A) battery.
B) slander.
C) assault.
D) negligence.
C) assault.
Page Ref: 66
Objective: 4.13 Describe how to avoid claims of assault, battery, abandonment, false imprisonment/kidnapping, and defamation.
You are caring for a patient who refuses treatment and transport. However, you are unsure whether he is capable of a rational decision. You should:
A) transport the patient anyway.
B) have the patient sign a refusal form.
C) consult with medical direction.
D) have a family member sign the refusal form.
C) consult with medical direction.
Page Ref: 62
Objective: 4.10 Given a scenario, determine the type of patient consent that applies.
An alert and oriented patient complaining of a severe headache is refusing treatment and transport. After signing a refusal form, she begins to seize and goes unconscious. You should do which of the following?
A) Contact medical direction for permission to treat.
B) Honor the patient’s wishes and leave the scene.
C) Have the patient’s family transport the patient to the hospital.
D) Provide care under the doctrine of implied consent.
D) Provide care under the doctrine of implied consent.
Page Ref: 63
Objective: 4.10 Given a scenario, determine the type of patient consent that applies.
You are called to a park for a 10-year-old boy who has fallen from a slide and broken his arm. The bone is angulated, and he is in a lot of pain. He states that his mother is at work, and he doesn’t know the phone number. You should:
A) treat the boy under the doctrine of implied consent.
B) not treat the boy until you contact to his mother.
C) obtain permission from the park director.
D) have the police take custody of the boy and give permission to treat.
A) treat the boy under the doctrine of implied consent.
Page Ref: 65
Objective: 4.10 Given a scenario, determine the type of patient consent that applies.
A 62-year-old alcoholic has fallen and sustained a head injury. He states he does not want to be treated and becomes combative when you try to examine him. Your BEST course of action would be to:
A) transport him against his will.
B) treat him under the doctrine of implied consent.
C) restrain him so that you can assess him.
D) contact medical direction.
D) contact medical direction.
Page Ref: 63
Objective: 4.11 Evaluate factors that should be considered when determining a patient’s decision-making capacity and in situations where the use of force or patient restraint is being contemplated.
The AEMT recognizes that the HIPAA legislation limits his ability to do which of the following?
A) Share medical information regarding a patient.
B) Bill for services rendered.
C) Obtain refusals on patients who do not have insurance.
D) Transport a patient to the hospital of their choice.
A) Share medical information regarding a patient.
Page Ref: 71
Objective: 4.16 Discuss the application of EMTALA and HIPAA legislation to the practice of EMS.
Presumptive signs of death include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) rigor mortis.
B) profound cyanosis.
C) dependent lividity.
D) decomposition.
B) profound cyanosis.
Page Ref: 67
Objective: 4.17 Identify presumptive signs of death.
Which of the following deaths would require contact with law enforcement?
A) A patient who died as a result of chronic emphysema
B) A patient who has shot himself
C) The death of a terminally ill patient
D) A cardiac patient who dies en route to the hospital
B) A patient who has shot himself
Page Ref: 67
Objective: 4.19 Identify situations in which law enforcement or the medical examiner’s office should be notified.
All of the following are incidents that require mandatory reporting EXCEPT a(n):
A) boy who has been bitten by a dog.
B) child who has been abused.
C) patient who has used illegal drugs.
D) patient with a gunshot wound.
C) patient who has used illegal drugs.
Page Ref: 72
Objective: 4.14 Identify situations in which Advanced EMTs may be mandatory reporters of suspected crimes or other legally reportable situations.
You are pulling into the hospital with a patient with a behavioral emergency who continually seeks treatment at this particular hospital. Before you can unload the patient, a physician comes out and tells you that you must take the patient to another hospital and that he can’t be seen here. This is best classified as a(n):
A) violation of the patient consent.
B) HIPAA violation.
C) violation of the Ryan White CARE Act.
D) EMTALA violation.
D) EMTALA violation.
Page Ref: 71
Objective: 4.16 Discuss the application of EMTALA and HIPAA legislation to the practice of EMS.
Which of the following is not one of the EMT’s responsibilities at a crime scene?
A) Identifying any potential suspects
B) Securing his own safety
C) Taking notes regarding possible evidence that was moved
D) Preserving evidence for trial
A) Identifying any potential suspects
Page Ref: 72
Objective: 4.20 Discuss legal considerations in the response to crime scenes and the care of both crime victims and suspects.
