emt chapter 4 quiz

Regulations and ethical considerations

define the “scope” or limits of an EMTs job which may include skills and medical interventions

Standards of Care:

 What would be expected from an EMT with similar training when caring for a patient in a similar situation

Consent

Everything done with a patient must have consent behind it. 

• Always explain the risks and the rewards to a treatment.

Quality improvement:

accepting suggestions from others to improve your skills, communication, and patient outcome

Expressed Consent:

Consent given by legal adults who are mentally stable 

Expression consent must be informed consent, patients must accept the potential risks

Implied consent

assumed consent (used with unconscious patients, children, and mentally impaired adults)

Consent to treat minors/mentally impaired adults.

Minors and mentally impaired adults may not refuse consent unless:

Enlisted 17 year-olds

Pregnant minors

Involuntary transportation:

•  taking a patient under your care while they are conscious and do not consent is imprisonment

If they are criminals: you need an emergency custody order with law enforcement  

Restraining patients

• last resort, you may only use soft restraints  

  • Never restrain a patient face down—you cannot manage their airway

  • Restrained patients need their vitals checked every 5 minutes

Handcuffed patients

• law enforcement must ride with them 

  • They will need to uncuff the patient if an emergency takes place

Eligibility to refuse care:

Must be legally applicable + sign a release form “releasing” EMS workers of any liability

Steps to Persuading Care:

1. effective communication and reasoning 

2. give them another POV

3. Inform the patient of consequences

4. Consult medical direction

5. attempt to persuade the family  

6. contacting law enforcement for forced transportation

7. Have patient sign a refusal form

EMS Battery/assult

Forcefully transporting a mentally stable patient is assault and may count as battery as well. 

Refusals

Document all refusals, why they refused, and your attempt to help change their mind 

• You need the patient to sign a form agreeing they refused consent along with an additional witness.

Do not resuscitate order (DNR)

legal documents signed by the patient and their physician stating they have a terminal illness and do not wish for resurrection.

Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST):

Includes a DNR and the patients consent towards life sustaining treatments.

Negligence

Must prove you have a duty to act and failed to provide said duty.

Torts

Civil lawsuits held against EMTs

Res ipsa loquitur

• “the thing speaks for itself” concept used in tort law 

  • allows a finding in negligence even when there is no specific evidence

Libel

 when injurious information is written

Slander

when injurious information is verbally stated

Duty to act

An EMTs obligation to provide emergency care 

Abandonment

Leaving a patient after care has been initiated without transfer to another medical specialist

Good Samaritan Law

Provides some legal protection to healthcare workers and citizens when giving emergency care

Confidentiality

Obligation not to reveal patient information to anyone except those involved in the care of patient or if the patient signs a release of confidentiality. 

 Medical Identification Device

Type a jewelry meant to inform health care workers of medical conditions the patient has in the event in which they are found unconscious.

Organ Donors

 Someone who signed a legal document allowing their organs to be donated at death

Safe Haven Laws

 Permits people to drop off infants and young children at first responder buildings

Crime Scenes

1. Begin care after police deem scene safe

2. Preserve evidence, report everything touched

3. Don't use the bathroom on scene

4. Work with police to find evidence, they may request a statement of observations and actions