Chapter 2 Flashcards
Standard of Care
the care that should be provided for any level of training based on local laws, administrative orders, and guidelines and protocols established by the local EMS system
Duty
the legal obligation to provide care
Ethics
the study of the principles that define behavior as right, good, and proper
Values
the personal beliefs that determine how a person actually behaves
Consent
the legal term that means to give formal permission for something to happen
Capacity
refers to a patient’s legal rights and ability to make decisions concerning his or her medical care
Competence
refers to the patient’s mental ability to comprehend the situation and make rational decisions regarding his or her medical care
Expressed consent
a competent adult’s decision to accept emergency care
Informed consent
consent granted by a patient after he has been appropriately informed of the care being suggested and associated consequences
Unresponsive
having no reaction to verbal or painful stimuli; also referred to as unconscious
Implied consent
a legal form of consent that assumes that a patient who lacks the capacity or competency to provide his own consent would consent to receiving emergency care if he were able. This form of consent may apply in situations where the patient is a minor, unresponsive, or lacks capacity
Emancipated minor
a minor whose parents have entirely surrendered the right to the care, custody, and earning and no longer are under any duty to support the minor
Criminal law
the body of law dealing with crimes and punishment
Battery
unlawful physical contact
Advance directive
a document that allows a patient to define in advance what his wishes are should he become incapacitated due to a medical illness or severe injury
Negligence
a failure to provide the expected standard of care
Duty to Act
a requirement that Emergency Medical Responders, at least while on duty, must provide care according to a set standard
Good Samaritan laws
state laws designed to protect certain care providers if they deliver the standard of care in good faith, to the level of their training, and to the best of their abilities
Abandonment
to leave a sick or injured patient before equal or more highly trained personnel can assume responsibility for care
Confidentiality
refers to the treatment of information that an individual has disclosed in a relationship of trust and with the expectation that it will not be divulged to others
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
a law that dictates the extent to which protected health information can be shared
Mandated Reporter
any person required by law to report (or cause a report to be made) whenever financial, physical, sexual, or other types of abuse or neglect have been observed or are suspected
