LO7 all mass flashcards

civil law

patient can sue you for a perceived injury

• malpractice suits

criminal law

the province or federal government prosecute for breaking legal statute

• medication misuse

tort

wrongful act that causes a civil lawsuit

• unintentional tort: negligence

• intentional tort: malicious, intentional

two most common civil lawsuit calls

1. calls where there was no transport or when transport was delayed

• after not being transported conditions deteriorate

• issue arises due to late transport

• 2. quality of care provided was insufficient

• clinical errors

• harmful intervention

most likely prosecutions for paramedics

assault: instills fear of immediate bodily harm whether or not it is carried out

battery: harmful or offensive touching without consent

false imprisonment: person is detained against their will

traffic related: at fault collisions

libel

false statement in written form that harms a persons reputation

slander

verbally making a false statement that injures someones good name

tunnel vision

concentrating on only the patients condition and ignoring potential danger to yourself or the patient

how to position ambulance on highway

• minimum 6 feet behind other car

• 10 degree angle with driver side facing centre of road

• front wheels turned all the way left

what to do when not the first on scene

• ask incident commander where to park

• park downstream

if there is a potential violent situation with a vehicle

• report license plate number before leaving ambulance

• notify dispatch of situation

how to approach a vehicle

• person on the right side front seat approaches first

• check if trunk is open and if there is someone inside

• proceed to passenger side c column

• look in the rear and side windows

• number of people, weapons, where their hands are

• if nobody is in the back proceed to b column

• if no violence is suspected introduce yourself (paramedic, do you need help?)

approaching a van

• approach from the front passenger side A column

• stay 3-5 m away from the sides and back of the van

information for dispatch when backup is needed

• unit ID and ambulance number

• location of yourself and patient

• number of aggressors

• number and types of injuries

• number and types of weapons

• description of aggressor vehicle

• direction of travel if vehicle leaves the scene

approaching a residence

• one should approach while one stays a short distance away

• listen for loud violent noises

• try to look through windows

• look for weapons

entering a residence

• use alternative path when approaching

• stand on doorknob side of door when knocking

• announce paramedics when knocking

• ask to be lead to the patients and to turn on lights

• find a secondary exit

• scan the room for weapons

domestic violence

• if violent dispute is underway on arrival, call law enforcement

• good communication, body language and eye contact can defuse some situations

drug laboratories

• can be highly flammable, explosive or toxic

• booby traps

• remain clear until scene is secured

• remove patient from scene if possible

gangs

• 3 r’s: reputation, respect, retaliation

• limit the amount of care provided in the open

multiple casualty shootings

• remain in staging area until scene is secured

• use cover and concealment

hostage situations

• law enforcement informed

• anticipate actions and emotions of aggressor

• six stages involved are: surveillance, capture, transport, holding, move and resolution

• do not try to escape and do what the aggressor says

• obtain as much information as you can

• ask to treat other wounded people

testimonial evidence

• oral documentation by a witness of a criminal act

physical evidence

• ties a suspect or victim to a crime

• materials on the body, objects, impressions

protecting evidence

• minimum amount of paramedics should enter a crime scene

• try to alter as little as possible

• try to avoid any path anyone already took

• try not to touch anything

• inform law enforcement of anything you did or touched

how to document crime scenes

3 things should always be documented

1. what you saw

2. what you heard

3. chain of custody

include description of scene, statements made by patient, etc.

substantive law

all rules and regulations pertaining to each individual in society

• public and private

procedural law

rules that govern the conduct of the judiciary (for lawyers)

public law

any legal issue that the government or state has an interest

private law

legal issues what only concern the two parties involved

• civil

• common

ensure that every person is treated equally, fairly, and consistently

requests by police should be followed unless

• request interferes with direct needs of a patient

• will delay important medical care

• result on potential deterioration of patient conditions

crime scene characteristics

• location

• point of contact

• method of approach

• method of attack

• use of force

• method of control

• weapons

• victim resistance

• victim compliance

four basic categories of crime scene

1. scenes involving violence

   • assault, abuse, terrorism, domestic violence

2. scenes were a death has occurred

   • homicide, fatal accidents, suicide, non-intentional trauma, etc.

3. scenes involving injury that could involve litigation

   • MVAs, pushes, falls

4. scenes where criminal acts have occurred

   • robbery, break and enter, arson

for crime scenes document

• anything that has been moved

• condition before and after moving

• condition of patient clothing before it was cut off

• anything in pockets or that was touched

approaching a crime scene

• wait for law enforcement

• park far away to preserve tire prints

• approach from a different route than aggressor

• survey and assess as much as possible

• leave on the same path you entered

two factors for PCR in court

1. PCR was a part of routine administration

2. it is normal practice to write reports at the time or within a reasonable time after an occurrence

reports written sooner are more accurate