Chapter 3 Audio Book Transcript Study Flashcards
What is the primary ethical principle in emergency medical care?
Do no further harm.
What is the definition of consent in emergency medical care?
Consent is permission or agreement from a patient to receive treatment.
What are the types of consent?
Expressed consent, implied consent, and involuntary consent.
What factors influence a patient’s decision-making capacity?
Factors include age, mental limitations, intoxication, pain, language barriers, and understanding of the situation.
What is patient autonomy?
The right of a patient to make decisions concerning their health.
What is implied consent?
Consent assumed when a patient is unconscious or unable to make an informed decision, based on the presumption they would want care.
When can minors consent to medical treatment?
Minors may consent if they are emancipated, married, in the armed forces, or are parents themselves.
What does ‘in loco parentis’ mean in emergency care?
It refers to teachers or school officials acting in place of a parent to give consent for treatment when a guardian is unavailable.
What are the steps to handle a patient who refuses care?
Assess decision-making capacity, provide clear explanations, encourage treatment, document the refusal, and notify medical control.
What is the purpose of a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order?
It allows healthcare providers to refrain from attempting resuscitation if the patient stops breathing or their heart stops.
What are the definitive signs of death?
Decapitation, rigor mortis, dependent lividity, and putrefaction.
What does the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protect?
It safeguards patient health information and ensures privacy.
What is the scope of practice for an EMT?
It defines the care an EMT is legally authorized to provide, as determined by state law and medical directors.
What establishes the standard of care for EMTs?
It is determined by statutes, local customs, protocols, medical literature, and case law.
What constitutes negligence in emergency medical care?
Failure to provide the standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient.
What is abandonment in medical care?
Unilateral termination of care without ensuring a patient is handed over to another competent professional.
What legal challenges might arise from transporting a patient against their will?
Accusations of false imprisonment or kidnapping.
What is defamation, and how can it occur in EMS?
Defamation involves false communication damaging someone’s reputation, occurring through inaccurate reports or inappropriate comments.
What protections do Good Samaritan laws provide?
They shield individuals who provide care in good faith, without gross negligence, from liability.
What must EMTs document in a patient care report?
Assessment findings, care provided, patient refusals, and communication with medical control.
What are some mandatory reporting requirements for EMTs?
Reporting child abuse, elder abuse, injuries from felonies, communicable diseases, and births outside licensed facilities.
What should an EMT do at a crime scene?
Notify dispatch, provide life-saving care, and avoid disturbing evidence.
How should an EMT handle ethical dilemmas?
Follow professional ethics, involve medical control, and document actions clearly.
What is the role of an EMT in court?
Testify as a witness to provide factual accounts or as a defendant in legal cases.
What are compensatory and punitive damages?
Compensatory damages reimburse losses, while punitive damages punish intentional or reckless misconduct.
