Medical, Legal, Ethical Issues

Question 1

Define scope of practice. What is this usually dictated by?

Answer 1

The legal actions and care an EMT is allowed to perform. Usually dictated by state laws.

Question 2

Define standard of care

Answer 2

The level of care expected to be provided by an EMT with similar training and management

Question 3

Define duty to act

Answer 3

The responsibility to provide care in certain situations. Every EMT has the responsibility to act when on call or on duty. Some states require EMT’s to also respond off duty.

Question 4

Define Good Samaritan laws

Answer 4

Laws protecting care providers who administer care when they are not being paid, except in cases of gross negligence.

Question 5

Define expressed consent

Answer 5

Permission to provide care from a patient who is of legal age, alert and oriented, and informed of the care you intent to provide. This can be obtained verbally.

Question 6

Define implied consent

Answer 6

Permission to provide care is assumed because the patient is unable to make rational decision due to altered mental status (including loss of consciousness)

Question 7

Define minor consent

Answer 7

Permission to provide care that is implied for a person under 18. This does not apply to emancipated minors: someone who is under 18 but either married, pregnant, a parent, or a member of the armed forces.

Question 8

Define involuntary consent

Answer 8

Permission to provide care (often from a third party or legal entity) to an adult who is not mentally competent or in legal custody.

Question 9

A DNR (aka?) is a form of what kind of protocol. Give two more examples of these kinds of protocols.

Answer 9

A Do Not Resuscitate is a form of advanced directive, which gives instructions regarding healthcare for a patient ahead of time. Also considered advance directives are living wills (regarding general healthcare matters like life support, ventilators, and feeding tubes) and power of attorney (designates a person to make healthcare decisions on the patients behalf).

Question 10

What does it take to refuse care?

Answer 10

Competency, the patient is informed.

Question 11

What should you do before accepting a refusal of care?

Answer 11

Repeat their options, tell them the effects/consequences of refusing care, ask them to repeat back to you what you would be doing if you could provide care (if they can’t, they’re not competent), tell them to call again if it gets worse, get a refusal SIGNED, and have a witness sign too. Contact medical direction of unsure.

Question 12

Define tort

Answer 12

A wrongful act, damage, or injury committed in the line of duty. P

Question 13

Define negligence. What must be shown to prove negligence?

Answer 13

Failure to perform a duty even tho their may not have been an intention to do so. The following must be shown to prove negligence: a duty to act, breach of that duty, the patient was injured, and the injury was a result of the breach of duty.

Question 14

Define abandonment

Answer 14

Ceasing care before handing off (aka providing an oral patient care update) to a higher or equal level of care.

Question 15

Define battery

Answer 15

Touching a patient in an unlawful way without his consent.

Question 16

Define false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Answer 16

Transporting the patient against their wishes.

Question 17

Define defamation, slander, and libel

Answer 17

Defamation is sharing information regarding a patient, slander is spoken defamation, and libel is spreading this information in public such as through the media.