Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues

Question 1

Scope of Practice

Answer 1

a set of regulations and ethical considerations that define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMTs job

Question 2

Standard of Care

Answer 2

for an EMT providing care for specific patient in a specific situation, the care that would be expected to be provided by an EMT with similar training when caring for a patient in a similar situation

Question 3

Consent

Answer 3

permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT

Question 4

Expressed Consent

Answer 4

consent given by adults who are of legal age and mentally competent to make a rational decision in regard to their medical well-being

Question 5

Implied Consent

Answer 5

the consent it is presumed a patient or patient’s parent or guardian would give if they could such as for an unconscious patient or a parent who cannot be contaced when care is needed

Question 6

in loco parentis

Answer 6

in place of the parent, indicating a person who may give consent for care of a child when the parents are not present or able to give consent

Question 7

Liability

Answer 7

being held legally responsible

Question 8

Assult

Answer 8

placing a person in fear of bodily harm

Question 9

Battery

Answer 9

causing bodily harm to or restraining a person

Question 10

DNR order

Answer 10

do not resuscitate order
legal document usually signed by the patient and his physician which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitation efforts

Question 11

Advanced Directive

Answer 11

a DNR order; instructions written in advance of an event

Question 12

Negligence

Answer 12

a finding of failure to act properly in a situation in which there was a duty to act, that needed care as would reasonably be expected of the EMT was not provided, and that harm was caused to the patient as a result

Question 13

Tort

Answer 13

a civil, not criminal , offencse; an action or injury caused by negligence from which a lawsuit may arise

Question 14

res ipsa loquitur

Answer 14

a latin term meaning “the thing speaks for itself”

Question 15

Abandonment

Answer 15

leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training

Question 16

Moral

Answer 16

regarding personal standars or principles of right and wrong

Question 17

Ethical

Answer 17

regarding a social system or social or professional expectations for applying principles of right and wrong

Question 18

Good Samaritan laws

Answer 18

a series of laws, varying in each state, designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administering emergency care

Question 19

Confidentiality

Answer 19

the obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health care professionals involved in the patients care, or under subpoena, or in a court of law, or when the patient has signed a release of confidentiality

Question 20

HIPAA

Answer 20

the Health Insurance Portiblity and Accountibility Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of patient specific health care information and providing the patient with control over how this information is used and distributed

Question 21

Libel

Answer 21

false or injurious information in written form

Question 22

Slander

Answer 22

false or injurious information stated verbally

Question 23

Safe Haven law

Answer 23

law that permits a person to drop off an infanct or child at a police, fire, or EMS station or to deliver the infant or child to any available public safety personnel