week 12

Question 1

what are the common laws applicable to paramedic practice

Answer 1

1: “every human being of adult years (16) and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with their own body
2: “i can reject life-saving treatment if i wish to”
3: Duty of care - criminal offence not to care
we need to protect people if they can’t protect themselves due to:
age
sickness
mental impairment
detention

Question 2

a person will be taken to have impaired decision making capacity in the respect of a particular desicion if:

Answer 2

a: the person is not capable of
1: understanding any info that may be relevant to the decision or
2: retaining such information or
3: using such info in the course of making the decision or
4: communicating his or er decision in any manner or
B: the person is, by reason of being comatose or otherwise unconcious, unable to make a particular decision about their medical treatment

Question 3

person responsible is

Answer 3

• an adult able to make health care decisions for you
• if you do not have an advanced care directive and
• have not appointed a substitute decision-maker in your advance care directive
• it will usually be someone who is close to you and is available and wants to make the decision
• it could be several people in your family or someone contacted by your health practitioner

Question 4

advanced care directive is

Answer 4

• a legal form for people over 18 years
• it can record your wishes and instructions for your future health care, end of life, preferred living arrangements and other personal matters
• it can also be used to appoint one or more adults to make these decisions for you
• your advance care directive takes effect (can only be used) if you are unable to make your own decisions
• to be legan, you must only use the official advance care directive form

Question 5

substitute decision maker

Answer 5

• an adult you can chose and appoint in your advance care directive
• makes decisions about your future health care, end of life, living arrangements and other personal matters
• WHEN you are unable to make these decisions for yourself, whether for a short time only, or permanently

you cannot:
- make a decision which would be illegal
- refuse food and water to be given to them by mouth
- refuse medicine for pain or distress
- make legal or financial decisions (unless appointed by enduring power of attorney for financial matters)

Question 6

general power of attonery

Answer 6

• give that person the power to act on your behalf - personal, medical and financial
• doesn’t mean you lose control over your affairs. You can still deal with all matters
• created for a specific time - otherwise ceases when you die or if you become legally incapactitated

Question 7

enduring power of attorney

Answer 7

• power of attorney that continues to operate even after you become legally incapactitated
• financial affairs can be looked after by someone you know and trust
  -you cant make a power of attorney after you become legally incapactiated
• you can cancel your enduring power of attorney at any time, as long as you still have legal capacity

Question 8

consent to medical treatment under 16 years old

Answer 8

if the patient is a child, and a parent or guardian of the child is available to decide whether the medical treatment should be administered, the parent’s or guardian’s consent to the treatment must be sought
but if the childs health and well-being are paramount and if the parent/gaurdian refuses consent, the treatment may be administered despite the refusal if it is in the best interests of the child’s health and well-being