Legal and Ethical Principles Chapter 2 Flashcards
Understanding Legal and Ethical Principles of Emergency Care
Explain the Good Samaritan law and how those laws relate to the EMR.
Good Samaritan Laws minimize exposure to liability and encourage passerby’s to provide emergency care to those in need. Those laws require the individual who is providing care to be doing so without compensation and to remain within a specified scope of practice. Depending on the specific role that you play as an EMR you may have a legal and/or ethical duty to assist those in need.
Define Duty
The legal obligation to provide care.
What is implied consent?
A legal position that assumes that an unresponsive or incompetent adult patient would consent to receiving emergency care if they could. This form of consent may apply to other types of patients. Example: the mentally ill
What is 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.
Define ethics
The study of the principles that define behavior as right, good, and proper
Define values
The personal beliefs that determine how a person actually behaves.
Define consent
The legal term that means one needs to get formal permission for something to happen.
Define competence
The quality of being adequately or well-qualified to make decisions both physically and intellectually.
Define competent
Properly or sufficiently qualified or capable of making appropriate decisions about one’s own health or condition.
What is expressed consent?
A competent adult’s informed decision to accept emergency care provided by an EMR. Also referred to as informed consent.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent is the same as expressed consent; A competent adult informed decision to accept emergency care provided by an EMR.
Define unresponsive
Having no reaction to verbal or painful stimuli; previously referred to as unconscious.
Describe emancipated minors
A minor whose parents have entirely surrendered the right to care, custody, and earnings, and no longer are under any duty to support the minor. Emancipated minors are legally allowed to make their own decisions regarding medical care.
Explain refusal of care
A patient states he/she does not want care. A patient does not have to speak to refuse care. If the patient shakes his/her head no or holds up a hand to signal you to stop, the patient has refused your help. Should the patient pull away from you, know that also maybe viewed as refusal of care.
Define criminal law
The body of law dealing with crimes and punishment.