Chapter 3 - Medical, Legal and Ethical Issues

Question 0

Standard of care

Answer 0

The care that is expected to be provided by an EMT with similar training

Question 1

Scope of practice

Answer 1

The actions and care EMTs are legally allowed to perform by the state in which they work

Question 2

Duty to act

Answer 2

Your legal obligation to provide service

Question 3

Good Samaritan law

Answer 3

Protects a person who is not being paid for his services from liability for acts performed in good faith unless those acts constitute gross negligence - 1959

Question 4

Name 3 types of legal protection

Answer 4

Sovereign immunity - governmental immunity
Statute of limitations - time restraint
Contributory negligence - patient contributes in any manner to his own injuries

Question 5

Ethics

Answer 5

Philosophy specifically directed toward the study of morality

Question 6

Morals

Answer 6

Concepts of rights and wrongs

Question 7

Consent

Answer 7

Permission before providing care

Question 8

Informed consent

Answer 8

Patient must be informed of the care to be provided

Question 9

Name the 4 types of consent

Answer 9

Expressed consent
Implied consent
Minor consent
Involuntary consent

Question 10

Expressed consent

Answer 10

Must be obtained from every conscious, mentally competent adult before treatment begins

Question 11

Implied consent

Answer 11

When you assume that an unresponsive person would consent to emergency care if he could

Question 12

Consent to treat a minor

Answer 12

Must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian or other person who has been granted limited rights before treating patient w

Question 13

Involuntary consent

Answer 13

When dealing with mentally incompetent adult or individuals who are in custody of law enforcement or is incarcerated

Question 14

Advanced directive

Answer 14

Instructions written in advance

Question 15

POLST

Answer 15

Physician orders for life-sustaining treatment

Question 16

Competence

Answer 16

The ability to make an informed decision

Question 17

What does a patient need to prove orientation to as to be deemed lucid?

Answer 17

Person, place, and time

Question 18

What is res ipsa loquitur?

Answer 18

Meaning things speak for them self

Question 19

What is negligence per se?

Answer 19

An act is considered to be negligent simply because it is in violation of regulations or protocols

Question 20

Simple negligence

Answer 20

When an EMT fails to perform care or when a mistake is made

Question 21

Gross negligence

Answer 21

Willful or extremely reckless patient care far beyond negligent or careless

Question 22

Proximate cause

Answer 22

Injuries suffered by the patient were the direct result of the EMTs negligence

Question 23

Intentional tort

Answer 23

An action knowingly committed by an individual that is considered to be civilly wrong according to the law

Question 24

Assault

Answer 24

Willful threat to inflict harm on a patient

Question 25

Battery

Answer 25

Act of touching a patient unlawfully without his consent

Question 26

Defamation

Answer 26

Release of information to the public in either in written or spoken form that is construed to be damaging to that person

Question 27

Slander

Answer 27

Spoken form of defamation

Question 28

Libel

Answer 28

The written form or mass media form of defamation

Question 29

What is HIPAA?

Answer 29

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - 1996 federal law that protects the privacy of the patients health care information

Question 30

What is COBRA?

Answer 30

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act - federal regulations that ensure the publics access to emergency health care regardless of ability to pay

Question 31

What is EMTALA?

Answer 31

Emergency medical treatment and active labor act

Also known as the anti patient dumping

Question 32

What is dependent lividity?

Answer 32

Discoloration of the skin from blood pooling that is affected by gravity

Question 33

Name 3 special reporting situations?

Answer 33

Abuse - child, senior, sexual
Crimes - gunshot wounds, knife wounds
Drug related injuries

Question 34

What is a durable power of attorney?

Answer 34

A person who is legally empowered to make health care decisions for the signer of the document

Question 35

What is a tort?

Answer 35

Wrongful act, injury or damage

Question 36

What constitutes negligence?

Answer 36

A tort in which there is no intent to do any harm to the patient but in which a breach in the duty to act occurred

Question 37

What is abandonment?

Answer 37

Stoping treatment of a patient without transferring care

Question 38

What is false imprisonment?

Answer 38

Intentionally transporting a competent patient without his consent