Chapter 3 Emergency Care and Transportation of the sick and injured

decision making capactiy

ability to understand, process, decide on medical care

patient autonomy

The right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care.

factors determining decision making capacity

iq impaired

legal age

drugs or alcohol

severe pain

distracting injury

hearing or visual impaired

understand?

expressed consent

verbally or otherwise acknowledges the he or she wants you to provide care or transport (verbal or non verbal)

informed consent

explained the nature of the treatment being offered, along with the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment, as well as potential consequences of refusing treatment, and the patient has given consent.

implied consent

Assumption on behalf of a person unable to give consent that he or she would have done so.

emergency doctrine

principle of implied consent

medicolegal

a term relating to medical law or forensic medicine

emancipated minors

Self-supporting adolescents under 18 years of age not subject to parental control.

in loco parentis

in place of parents

forcible restraint

The act of physically preventing a person from taking physical action.

breach of confidentiality

Disclosure of information without proper authorization.

protected health information (PHI)

information about a patient that may identify him/her

do not resuscitate (DNR)

an order that tells medical professionals not to perform CPR

competent

having the ability to do what is needed

advance directive

a formal, legally endorsed document that provides instructions for care of a person in a coma

health care directive

living will

durable powers of attorney for health care

surrogates to make decisions for patients when they become incapacitated

health care proxies

surrogates to make decisions for patients when they become incapacitated

scope of practice

Most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care you are able to provide for the patient.

standard of care

the skills, care, and judgments required by a health team member under similar conditions

emergency

A serious situation requiring immediate action

certification

documentation of having met certain standards

licensure

process by which a government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation

credentialing

periodic verification that a provider or facility meets professional standards

duty to act

obligation to provide care to patient

negligence

failure to give expected care

determine negligence

duty

breach of duty

damages

causation

proximate causation

when a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual, the EMT, the agency, and/or the medical director may be sued for negligence

res ipsa loquitor

"the thing speaks for itself" ...the physicians mistake speaks for itself.

negligence per se

an act in violation of a statutory requirement

torts

wrongful acts for which an injured party has the right to sue

abandonment

withdrawing medical care from a patient without providing sufficient notice to the patient

assault

threat or attempt to injure

battery

an assault in which the assailant makes physical contact

kidnapping

the unlawful removal or restraint of a person against his or her will

false imprisionment

the confinement of a person without legal authority or the person's consent

defamation

act of harming or ruining another's reputation

slander

spoken defamation

libel

written defamation

good samaritan laws

laws that protect people who give first aid in good faith and within their boundaries of training

gross negligence

Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care.

ethics

philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior

morals

the rules people develop as a result of cultural values and norms

bioethics

The study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care.

applied ethics

The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct.

statue of limitations

refers to a the period of time during which a patient may file a suit.

contributory negligence

behavior by the plaintiff that helps cause his or her injuries

compensatory damages

sum of money that will compensate an injured plaintiff for actual loss

punitive damages

damages that are intended to punish the defendant for conduct that is extreme and outrageous