Ch 4 Medical/Legal And Ethical Issues Flashcards
Scope Of Practice
A set of regulations and ethical considerations that find a scope, or extend and limits, of EMT’s job
Standard of Care
For an EMT providing care for specific patient and his pacific situation, the care that would be expected to be provided by an EMT similar training when caring for a patient in a similar situation.
Consent
Permission from the patient for car or other action by the EMT.
Expressed Consent
Consent given by adults who are of legal age and mentally competent to make a rational decision in regards to their medical well-being.
Implied Consent
The consent it is presumed a patient or patient’s parent or guardian would give if they could, such as for an unconscious patient or a parent who cannot be contacted when care is needed.
In Loco Parentis
In place of a parent, indicating a person who may give consent for car of a child when the parents are not present or able to give consent.
Liability
Being held legally responsible.
Assault
Placing a person in fear of bodily harm.
Battery
Causing bodily harm to or restraining a person.
Do not Resuscitate (DNR)
A legal document, usually signed by patient and his physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts.
Advance Directive
A DNR order; instructions written in advance of an event.
Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Physician orders that state not only the patient’s wishes regarding resuscitation attempts but also the patient’s wishes of artificial feeding, antibiotics, and other life sustaining care if the person is unable to set his desire later.
Negligence
A finding of 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.
Tort
A civil, not criminal, offense; an action or injury caused by negligence from which a lawsuit may arise.
Res Ipsa Loquitar
A Latin term meaning “the thing speaks for itself.”
Duty to Act
An obligation to provide care to a patient.
Abandonment
Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
Moral
Regarding personal standard or principles of right and wrong.
Good Samaritan Laws
A series of laws, varying in each state, designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administrating emergency care.
Confidentiality
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 of confidentiality.
HIPPA
The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act, which 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.
Libel
Written defamation of character.
Slander
Oral defamation of character.
Organ Donor
A person who has completed a legal document that allows for donation of organs and tissues in the event of death.
Safe Haven Laws
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 public safety personnel. The intent of the law is to protect children who may otherwise be abandoned or harmed.
Crime Scene
The location where a crime has been committed or any place the evidence relating to a crime may be found.
Ethical
Regarding a social system or social or professional expectations for applying principles of right and wrong.
