Ch. 4 EMR Book: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues Flashcards
What are the most important concepts to remember when treating any patient?
- Do no harm
- Provide all care in good faith with the patient’s best interest in mind
- Provide proper, consistent care while being compassionate and maintaining composure
Duty to act
EMR’s legal responsibility to respond quickly to an emergency scene and provide medical care within the limits of training and available equipment
Standard of care
The manner in which an individual must act or behave when giving care
What are the two criteria to meet when complying with the standard of care?
- Treat patients to the best of your ability
- Provide the same care a reasonable person with similar training would provide under the same circumstances
What impacts the standard of care you would provide?
The circumstances you are in
What is a tort, as defined by the legal community?
A wrongful act
What is The Emergency Medical Responder Education Standards
Specifies the skills taught in EMR courses and how the skills should be performed
Who developed The Emergency Medical Responder Education Standards
The US Department of Transportation
The Emergency Medical Responder Education Standards has evolved into what currently?
National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Education Standards
What can modify the specifications in the education standards?
Scope-of-care laws for each state
What can the medical director use to specify your scope of care?
Medical protocols
Standing orders
Medical protocols; written documents signed by the EMS systems’ medical director which outlines specific directions, permissions, and prohibitions regarding patient care
What does it mean to treat a patient ethically?
Treating them in a manner that conforms to accepted professional standards of conduct
What are some ethical standards?
- Stay up to date with EMR skills and knowledge
- Reviewing your performance and assessing techniques used to improve performance
- Evaluate response times
- Follow up with patient care outcomes
- Be honest, especially in reports
Consent
Permission (to provide care in a medical setting)
Expressed consent (actual consent)
Consent given verbally or nonverbally, authorizing the EMR to provide care or transportation
What are the requirements for a patient giving consent?
- Must be 18 or older (depending on the state’s legal age)
- Patient must be able to make a rational decision
Informed consent
Permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been given
Implied consent
Consent to receive emergency medical care that is assumed because the individual is unconscious, underage, or so badly injured or ill that they cannot respond
How would you get consent for a minor for treatment?
From a parent or legal guardian