Module 2: Medical Legal Flashcards
What is QAQI
Quality assurance/improvement: standard of care towards patients
Compare the two types of implied consent: minors v impaired
minors: under 18 cannot make decisions, but if parent is not present consent is implied
impaired: if provider determines patient cannot make decision, treatment administered
What is “in loco parentis”
School can give consent when parents not present
What are the four categories of emancipated minors?
parent, married, self supporting, in military
What are the two situations in which patient is conditionally emancipated?
screening treatment for STI or if patient is pregnant
Give examples of soft medical restraints
towels, triangular bandages, commercially available soft restraints
Where should a patient’s hands and feet be if they are restrained?
secured to the stretcher, ALWAYS
When should a patient be placed in a prone position during restraint?
NEVER, due to the risk of positional asphyxia
What is the best position for a patient to be in for restraint?
supine, which allows full chest expansion
What is abandonment?
discontinuing care without ensuring patient is passed on to another provider of higher or equal care, not a first responder who is a lower level than EMT
What four factors must be present to prove negligence?
- Duty: were you on duty?
- Breach of duty: Did you act unreasonably, outside of your authority, or failed to meet standard of care?
- Damages: What were the consequences of your alleged action?
- Causation: Was your behavior the cause of the issue?
What must patients understand before they refuse care?
- Patient understands limitations of EMS evaluation
- Should be given information that they can change their mind and call 911
- Talk to supervisors, paramedics, and OLMC to give full scope of information to patients
When should you turn care over to a first responder?
Never, always ensure patient is within care of an EMT or someone with higher scope of practice
When can patient information be shared with police officers?
If they are investigating a crime
What advanced directives are honored in the EMS setting?
DNR, MOLST forms, DNR bracelet (must be metal)
What advanced directives are not honored in the EMS setting?
living wills, healthcare proxies, power of attorneys
What is the MOLST form?
Medical order for life-sustaining treatment
Look at section A, which indicates whether DNR is in place (whether or not box is checked)
When are EMTs mandated reporters? What report must they file?
Suspected child abuse/maltreatment–> SCAM report
What must EMTs refrain from on a crime scene?
Touching anything associated with patient care
Standard of care is a combination of:
public health law
state protocols
senior paramedic’s opinion
educational standards
public health law
state protocols
educational standards
A 44-year-old male is unconscious secondary to a head injury. An EMT would be able to treat this patient because of:
implied consent
expressed consent
health order of applied consent
emergency determination order
implied consent
You and your partner respond to the home where you find 82-year-old woman who is in cardiac arrest (not breathing and no pulse). Her son states he is his mother’s healthcare proxy and presents documentation. He further indicates that he does not want CPR performed on his mother. Your next steps should be?
begin life saving procedures and then call medical control for further direction
a 22-year old male patient laying outside of a bar. Upon your arrival the patient gets up and states he has been drinking. He knows his name, where he is but is unsure about time. He is unable to walk straight but says he’s “okay” and does not want to go to the hospital. You should.
try to convince the patient to comply, if he refuses call law enforcement
ask his friends to order a taxi
explain he should go to the hospital, if he refuses have him a signal
immediately restrain the patient
try to convince the patient to comply, if he refuses call law enforcement
a word for the loss from harm committed by an EMT. Can be physical, emotional, property or financial.
damages
TorF: A patient should only be restrained of they pose a danger to themself or others
True
TorF: An EMT suspects child abuse to a patient they have just brought to the hospital and the police are present. If the EMT tells the police about the suspected abuse they do not need to fill out a SCAM report
True
