Chapter 3 Flashcards
Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues
What is abandonment?
Abandonment is when an EMT stops caring for a patent without the patient’s consent and without transferring the patient’s care to a qualified medical professional.
What kinds of consent are there?
Expressed: When a patient specifically acknowledges the desire to receive care or transport (only valid if consent is informed: you explain the treatment–risks, benefits, and alternatives and consequences of refusing)
Implied: When a patient is incapable of making a rational/informed decision, the law assumes that the patient would consent to care and transport.
What is duty to act?
It is an individual’s responsibility to provide patient care. As an EMT this is when I am charged with emergency medical response or my service or deportment’s policy states that I must assist in an emergency.
What is a DNR?
It is a form from a physician ordering an EMT, “Do Not Resuscitate” the patient who is indicated by the document.
What is a Health Care Proxy?
A designated surrogate (someone to act when they themselves cannot) to make decisions concerning their health care.
What are the Definitive Signs of Death?
Obvious mortal damage (decapitation)
Dependent Lividity (blood pooling in lowest part of body)
Rigor mortis (Stiffened body muscles)
Algor mortis (cooling of body matching surrounding temp)
Putrefaction (decomposition of body tissues)
What is a standard of care?
The manner in which you must act or behave.
What are the four factors that determine Negligence?
Duty: EMT had an obligation
Breach of Duty: EMT did not follow standard of care or protocols
Damages: The patient was noticeably physically or psychologically harmed
Causation: The damages the patient withstood were caused by the breach of duty
What is battery?
Unlawfully touching someone
What is slander?
It is spoken defamation: spreading false information that damages an individual’s reputation. (Libel is written defamation)
What is assault:
Unlawfully placing an individual in fear of bodily harm.
What is kidnapping?
The seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force.
What is gross negligence?
It is conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care.
What is the best way to care for your patient once she tells you she does not want to go to the hospital?
Let her know how important it is that she accept transport to the hospital.
