Ch 7

Question 1

A 40-year-old man has severe facial bruising and is given analgesia by EMS personnel. When his wife arrives at the scene, he refuses EMS transport and wishes to leave. The wife’s behavior and overheard threatened violence against the patient make you suspect domestic violence. This dilemma arises from:

A) allocation.
B) a futile situation.
C) consent.
D) confidentiality.

Answer 1

D) confidentiality.

Question 2

A car slid 30 feet down a 400-foot cliff and came to rest on a narrow ledge. A passenger is bleeding heavily, but you cannot be sure that the car’s position is stable. This dilemma arises from:

A) a futile situation.
B) confidentiality.
C) obligation to provide care.
D) consent.

Answer 2

C) obligation to provide care.

Question 3

A colleague mistakenly gives aspirin to a patient who is allergic to it, resulting in the patient’s death. You hesitate to inform the family. This dilemma arises from:

A) error disclosure.
B) consent.
C) allocation.
D) confidentiality.

Answer 3

A) error disclosure.

Question 4

A paramedic who had to triage a group of patients from a broad economic demographic at a mass-casualty event should ask which question at the end of the day?

A) Was I fair and just today?
B) Did I do more good than harm today?
C) Did I practice any virtues today?
D) Did I treat people with dignity and respect today?

Answer 4

A) Was I fair and just today?

Question 5

A patient passed out and fell from the bleachers, breaking her leg. When she wakes up, she declines further medical care until the end of her son’s championship game. This dilemma arises from:

A) consent.
B) allocation.
C) confidentiality.
D) a futile situation.

Answer 5

A) consent.

Question 6

A patient who is positive for the human immunodeficiency virus refuses care for heavy bleeding, but you are concerned about infection of others nearby. This dilemma arises from:

A) a futile situation.
B) allocation.
C) confidentiality.
D) consent.

Answer 6

D) consent.

Question 7

Failure of the paramedic to notify the family within an hour of a patient’s death, as required by the local standards, would be:

A) ethical.
B) illegal.
C) immoral.
D) unethical.

Answer 7

D) unethical.

Question 8

Given their role as physician extenders, paramedics can face ethical dilemmas over:

A) lobbying to change the practice of emergency dispatchers.
B) the timing of medication when the physician is not on site.
C) their expectation to mentor new emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
D) their pay being consistent with their responsibilities.

Answer 8

B) the timing of medication when the physician is not on site.

Question 9

If the medical director tells a paramedic to stop CPR, but the paramedic believes that the patient has a weak pulse, the paramedic should act as a:

A) family counselor.
B) family member.
C) dutiful employee.
D) patient advocate.

Answer 9

D) patient advocate.

Question 10

In what manner should emergency physicians work on patient care?

A) Always as the leader
B) By themselves
C) When convenient
D) Cooperatively

Answer 10

D) Cooperatively

Question 11

Select the principles that you should use when dealing with ethical questions in paramedicine. Select all that apply.

A) Emotion is a reliable determinant for ethical decision making.
B) Global protocols are meant to guide, not dictate.
C) Once an ethical question has been answered, the answer becomes a “rule” to guide behavior.

Answer 11

B and C

Question 12

The detailed application of ethical principles to medical issues is called:

A) professional standards.
B) emergency ethics.
C) morals.
D) bioethics.

Answer 12

D) bioethics.

Question 13

The ethical perspective of Socrates can be summarized as:

A) “Seek to be in harmony with all of your neighbors.”
B) “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
C) “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
D) “Justice is the harmony of all virtues.”

Answer 13

B) “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Question 14

The interpersonal justifiability test requires more than:

A) talking with the medical director.
B) listing reasons on paper.
C) consulting a colleague of similar rank.
D) asking lay bystanders.

Answer 14

D) asking lay bystanders.

Question 15

What must be used to decide what is ethical when a 25-year-old patient refuses treatment for a severe laceration?

A) Personal opinions
B) Patient wishes
C) Global protocols
D) A balance of inputs

Answer 15

D) A balance of inputs

Question 16

What should guide ethical decisions in EMS?

A) Public perception
B) The paramedic’s emotion
C) Past experiences

Answer 16

C) Past experiences

(Quiz said this was wrong but it is the number one option in the book)

Question 17

Which act violates nonmaleficence?

A) Providing a fatal drug to a patient
B) Providing better care to those who can pay more
C) Sharing medical information with superiors
D) Allowing the patient’s right of self-determination

Answer 17

A) Providing a fatal drug to a patient

Question 18

Which of the following is a dilemma arising from allocation?

A) A patient dies while enroute to the emergency department.
B) A patient refuses care due to a lack of help after treatment.
C) A patient refuses care because he or she cannot afford medication.
D) A patient of uncertain mental state threatens to sue the paramedic.

Answer 18

C) A patient refuses care because he or she cannot afford medication.

Question 19

Which standard falls outside the EMS code of ethics?

A) Be an active citizen with regard to EMS-related legislation.
B) Maintain a professional appearance.
C) Do not cause harm to a patient.
D) Do not use professional knowledge to harm anyone.

Answer 19

B) Maintain a professional appearance.

Question 20

Working in the emergency department, you face parents whose child has just survived anaphylactic shock. The child was given peanut butter by an emergency medical technician from your hospital while treating the child’s younger brother for a broken arm. This dilemma arises from:

A) obligation to provide care.
B) error disclosure.
C) confidentiality.
D) consent.

Answer 20

B) error disclosure.