Ch 4 Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues

Question 1

A set of regulations and ethical considerations that define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT’s job

Answer 1

Scope of practice

Question 2

For an EMT providing care for a specific patient in a specific situation, the care that would be expected to be provided by an EMT with similar training when caring for a patient in a similar situation

Answer 2

Standard of care

Question 3

Permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT

Answer 3

Consent

Question 4

Consent given by adults who are of legal age and are mentally competent to make a rational decision with regard to their medical well-being

Answer 4

Express consent

Question 5

Literally ‘in place of a parent’ indicating a person who may give consent for care of a child when a parent is not present or able to give consent (eg school, babysitter)

Answer 5

In loco parentis

Question 6

The consent it is presumed patients or their parents or guardians would give if they could, such as for an unconscious patient or a child whose parents cannot be contacted when care is needed

Answer 6

Implied consent

Question 7

Being held legally responsible

Answer 7

Liability

Question 8

Placing a person in fear of bodily harm

Answer 8

Assault

Question 9

Causing bodily harm to or restraining a person

Answer 9

Battery

Question 10

A legal document, usually signed by both patient and physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts

Answer 10

Do not resuscitate (DNR) order

Question 11

A DNR order; instructions written in advance of an event

Answer 11

Advance directive

Question 12

Physician order that states not only the patient’s wishes regarding resuscitation attempts but also the patient’s wishes regarding artificial feeding, antibiotics, and other life-sustaining care if the patient is unable to state those desires later

Answer 12

Physician’s Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Question 13

A finding that there was failure to act properly in a situation in which there was a duty to act, that needed care as would reasonably be expected of the EMT was not provided, and that harm was caused to the patient as a result

Answer 13

Negligence

Question 14

A civil, not a criminal, offense; an action or injury caused by negligence from which a lawsuit may arise

Answer 14

Tort

Question 15

A Latin term meaning ‘the thing speaks for itself’

Answer 15

Res ipsa loquitur

Question 16

An obligation to provide care to a patient

Answer 16

Duty to act

Question 17

Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training

Answer 17

Abandonment

Question 18

Regarding personal standards or principles of right and wrong

Answer 18

Moral

Question 19

Regarding a social system or social or professional expectations for applying principles of right and wrong

Answer 19

Ethical

Question 20

A series of laws, varying by state, designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administering emergency care

Answer 20

Good Samaritan laws

Question 21

The obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health care professionals involved in the patient’s care or under subpoena or in a court of law or when the patient has signed a release

Answer 21

Confidentiality

Question 22

Includes the Privacy Rule protecting the privacy of patient-specific health care information and providing the patient with control over how this information is used and distributed

Answer 22

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Question 23

False, injurious information in written form

Answer 23

Libel

Question 24

False, injurious information stated verbally

Question 25

A person who has completed a legal document that allows for donation of organs and tissues in the event of death

Answer 25

Organ donor

Question 26

A law that permits a person to drop off an infant or child at a police, fire, or EMS station or to deliver the infant or child to any available public safety personnel

Answer 26

“Safe haven” law

Question 27

The location where a crime has been committed or any place that evidence relating to a crime may be found

Answer 27

Crime scene