Chapter 3 quiz

Question 0

The EMT correctly understands a Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment document when he states:
A)”A POLST must be signed by the court system patient and is valid for a period of no more than 5 years.”
B)”A POLST is the same as a Do Not Resuscitate order, with the difference being that the physician does not have to sign it.”
C) “A POLST is designed to allow a patient to choose the desired type of care prior to the need for resuscitation.”
D) “A POLST legally empowers another person to make health care decisions for him or her in the event he or she cannot do so.”

Answer 0

C) “A POLST is designed to allow a patient to choose the desired type of care prior to the need for resuscitation.”

Question 1

There has been a very serious motor vehicle collision involving a high-profile judge seeking reelection. The judge was traveling at a high rate of speed and crossed the center line, striking and killing a motorcyclist. Newspaper reporters are on location, asking you to describe what happened. Which one of the following statements is most appropriate?
A) “The accident was not bad, so please leave the scene.”
B) “The judge was in the car that hit and killed the motorcyclist.”
C) “The judge was involved, but I cannot tell you anything that happened.”
D) “There has been a serious accident in which a person was killed.”

Answer 1

D) “There has been a serious accident in which a person was killed.”

Question 2

The EMT shows understanding of the standard of care when he states:
A) “The standard of care is a measure of whether or not the right assessment and care have been provided to the patient.”
B) “The standard of care is a document that outlines the curriculum to which all EMT programs in the United States must subscribe.”
C) “The standard of care is state law that requires the EMS to respond and render care in emergency and nonemergency situations.”
D) “The standard of care is a state law that describes what actions the EMT can and cannot legally perform.”

Answer 2

A) “The standard of care is a measure of whether or not the right assessment and care have been provided to the patient.”

Question 3

You are off duty and have come across a motor vehicle collision. A car has crashed head-on into a utility pole. There is moderate damage to the vehicle and the driver is walking about the scene. You stop and assess the patient. He has a large bruise on his arm and is complaining of abdominal pain where the seat belt contacted his body. Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) are on scene and a responding ambulance has a 2-minute ETA. At this point, you realize that:
A) you cannot leave until another EMT or paramedic arrives to assume care.
B) you can leave the scene since the patient is stable and EMS is 2 minutes away.
C) you can transfer care to EMRs since EMS is notified and 2 minutes from the scene.
D) you can only transfer care to a paramedic once he or she arrives on scene.

Answer 3

A) you cannot leave until another EMT or paramedic arrives to assume care.

Question 4

Which one of the following best illustrates the EMT’s failure to meet the standard of care when treating a patient with chest pain?
A) Assisting the patient in taking his heart medication
B) Starting an IV on the patient
C) Failing to notify the patient’s primary care physician
D) Failing to give the patient oxygen

Answer 4

D) Failing to give the patient oxygen

Question 5

A diabetic patient has an elevated blood sugar (545 mg/dL) and requires an injection of insulin. Your EMT partner is also a diabetic and administers insulin injections to himself throughout the day as needed. Although the Scope of Practice lists nothing about EMTs giving insulin, your partner administers the insulin injection to the patient. The patient’s blood sugar comes down and her condition improves. Which of the following is true?
A) Because your partner used the patient’s insulin rather than his own, he cannot be reprimanded.
B) It was permissible for your partner to give the insulin since he is diabetic and knows how.
C) Since the patient benefited from the insulin, your partner acted appropriately.
D) Your partner violated the Scope of Practice and may have his certification revoked.

Answer 5

D) Your partner violated the Scope of Practice and may have his certification revoked.

Question 6

A patient who is extremely dizzy and vomiting declines your care and will not sign the refusal form. Your best action would be to:
A) have your partner sign on behalf of the patient.
B) inform the patient that by law he must sign the form.
C) have a family member sign as a witness to the refusal.
D) document that the patient refuses to sign and leave.

Answer 6

C) have a family member sign as a witness to the refusal.

Question 7

Your best protection when a patient refuses care or transport is to:
A) contact the patient at a later time to see how he is doing.
B) have your partner sign the refusal form as a witness.
C) completely and thoroughly document the incident.
D) inform the patient’s family physician of what happened.

Answer 7

C) completely and thoroughly document the incident.

Question 8

A 62-year-old male is short of breath. The EMT asks the patient if it would be okay to assess him, including taking his vital signs. The patient agrees. Which one of the following is true?
A) Informed consent has been obtained by the EMT.
B) The patient can be transported without further permission.
C) The EMT has obtained expressed consent.
D) A witness is needed for the patient’s consent.

Answer 8

C) The EMT has obtained expressed consent.

Question 9

For negligence to be proven, which of the following must be present?
A) Duty to act, injury, proximate cause
B) Assault, breach of duty, damage
C) Duty to act, breach of duty, battery
D) Harm to the patient, false imprisonment, duty to act

Answer 9

A) Duty to act, injury, proximate cause

Question 10

An alert and oriented patient complaining of a severe headache is refusing all treatment as well as transport by the EMTs. After having signed the refusal, the patient suddenly seizes and becomes unresponsive. The EMT should:
A) contact medical direction for permission to treat.
B) provide care under the guideline of implied consent.
C) honor the patient’s wishes and leave the scene.
D) place the patient into the family’s car for transport to the hospital.

Answer 10

B) provide care under the guideline of implied consent.

Question 11

A 77-year-old female is unresponsive, but breathing and with a pulse. On scene, a family member hands you an official document stating that the patient does not want feeding tubes, ventilators, or other long-term life support equipment to keep her alive. There is no mention of whether to administer life-saving drugs or withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The EMT would recognize this document as a(n):
A) Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. 
B) implied consent. 
C) living will document. 
D) durable power of attorney.

Answer 11

C) living will document.

Question 12

A competent adult patient with chest pain is refusing all treatment. Which one of the following indicates the EMT’s most appropriate response?
A) “Before you refuse, I need to tell you that this could be a heart attack and you could die.”
B) “Since you are competent and rational, it is your right to refuse. Please sign this refusal form.”
C) “I will need to have you sign this refusal form and a family member sign as a witness.”
D) “I am sorry, but since 911 was called, we must transport you to the hospital. You can refuse treatment there.”

Answer 12

A) “Before you refuse, I need to tell you that this could be a heart attack and you could die.”

Question 13

The EMT shows he understands Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders and a living will when he states:
A) “A living will is a form of DNR; only a living will states exactly how the patient wants to be resuscitated.”
B) “A DNR applies to resuscitation issues only, like when a patient stops breathing or the heart ceases to beat.”
C) “If a patient has a valid DNR, the EMT should withhold all care and transport the patient to the hospital.”
D) “If the patient has a living will, it can legally be used as a substitute for a Do Not Resuscitate order.”

Answer 13

B) “A DNR applies to resuscitation issues only, like when a patient stops breathing or the heart ceases to beat.”

Question 14

Which one of the following patients may be treated under the guideline of implied consent?
A) An adult patient with chest pain and shortness of breath who is refusing treatment and transport by EMS
B) An unresponsive 33-year-old female who is treated by EMS after overdosing on a street drug
C) A 2-year-old boy who fell down a flight of stairs and whose parents want him taken to the hospital
D) A 47-year-old female with severe abdominal pain who is refusing transport after placing the call to 911 for help

Answer 14

B) An unresponsive 33-year-old female who is treated by EMS after overdosing on a street drug

Question 15

The EMT gains the greatest protection from consent-related legal issues by:
A) notifying the emergency physician or medical direction of the patient’s consent.
B) having his or her partner serve as a witness to the consent.
C) documenting the patient’s consent for treatment on the prehospital care report.
D) asking the patient twice if it is okay to assess and treat him or her.

Answer 15

C) documenting the patient’s consent for treatment on the prehospital care report.

Question 16

A patient with a terminal disease is unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. The family states that the patient has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order signed by her medical doctor, but they cannot find it. The EMT should:
A) start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
B) pronounce the patient deceased.
C) have the family sign a refusal of care form.
D) wait for family to locate the DNR.

Answer 16

A) start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Question 17

A 46-year-old man who is conscious, competent, and rational is refusing treatment despite crushing chest pain and shortness of breath. He states that the hospital will not do anything for him and he does not want you to treat or transport him. The EMT should recognize that the:
A) patient has a right to refuse treatment and transport.
B) patient will need to be transported against his will.
C) police will need to be called so the patient can be transported in custody.
D) patient’s family can give consent to transport the patient.

Answer 17

A) patient has a right to refuse treatment and transport.

Question 18

An intoxicated 72-year-old male with an alcoholic history has fallen and has a laceration on the back of his head. He states that he does not want treatment and becomes combative when you try to talk to or assess him. Your best course of action would be to:
A) transport him by permission of family.
B) contact medical direction.
C) transport him against his will.
D) have him sign a refusal.

Answer 18

B) contact medical direction.

Question 19

In a community park, a 10-year-old boy has fallen from the top of a slide. His right wrist is deformed and he is in pain. He states that he lives with his mother and she is working. He does not know her work number. The EMT’s best action would be to:
A) treat the patient under the guidelines of implied consent.
B) obtain permission from the park director.
C) do not treat the patient until his mother can be contacted.
D) have the police take custody of the boy and give permission to treat.

Answer 19

A) treat the patient under the guidelines of implied consent.

Question 20

You have been dispatched for a 15-year-old female with a headache. On scene, the patient is found holding her daughter in her arms. She states that she has had a migraine headache for two days and would like to be transported to the hospital for further evaluation. As an EMT you would:
A) refuse transport since the patient does not have a true emergency.
B) treat her under the doctrine of implied consent.
C) obtain a parent’s consent to treat her, given her age.
D) assess and transport the patient as she desires.

Answer 20

D) assess and transport the patient as she desires.

Question 21

Which one of the following best indicates that informed consent has been obtained?
A) The patient is given oxygen because he is having chest pain and was the one who placed the 911 call for help.
B) The patient agrees to oxygen therapy after being told it may help decrease his chest pain but may dry his nose, causing discomfort.
C) The EMT administers oxygen because the patient is having chest pain and appears short of breath.
D) The EMT tells the patient that he will need oxygen because he is having chest pain, which could be a sign of a heart attack.

Answer 21

B) The patient agrees to oxygen therapy after being told it may help decrease his chest pain but may dry his nose, causing discomfort.

Question 22

You have been called to a home for an alert and oriented female with terminal lung cancer. At the home, the daughter, who is her mother’s durable power of attorney, states that she wants her mother transported to the hospital. The patient, who is alert and oriented, does not want to go. Which of the following statements indicates that the EMT is acting both appropriately and legally in this conflict?
A) “Since it appears there is a conflict of opinion here, I will need to call the police so that they can determine what to do.”
B) “Since your daughter is the durable power of attorney, she has the legal right to make all decisions; therefore, we have to take you to the hospital.”
C) “I know that you are the durable power of attorney, but your mother is alert and oriented so we cannot legally take her against her will.”
D) “As your durable power of attorney, your daughter has the legally vested right to make your decisions; however, let us ask your husband what he thinks.”

Answer 22

C) “I know that you are the durable power of attorney, but your mother is alert and oriented so we cannot legally take her against her will.”

Question 23

A 20-year-old male has been stabbed in the abdomen. Assessment reveals him to be unresponsive with shallow breathing and a low blood pressure. Which of the following instructions will you provide to your new EMT partner given that the patient has been involved in a crime?
A) “Do not worry about documenting the crime scene in your report. The police report will reflect that information.”
B) “We are not to move the patient to the stretcher until the police are done photographing the scene.”
C) “I am not worried about potential evidence. I am just worried about the patient.”
D) “When cutting his shirt off, make sure not to cut through the area where the knife penetrated.”

Answer 23

D) “When cutting his shirt off, make sure not to cut through the area where the knife penetrated.”

Question 24

You are pulling into the ambulance bay at a local hospital. On board you have a patient with behavioral problems who continually seeks treatment at this particular hospital. Before that patient can be unloaded, the physician comes out and states that the patient must be taken to another hospital. As an EMT you should:
A) recognize a violation of the EMTALA statute.
B) call the supervisor to report a HIPAA violation.
C) take the patient to the facility specified by the doctor.
D) ask the patient what hospital he wants to be taken to.

Answer 24

A) recognize a violation of the EMTALA statute.

Question 25

A woman calls the station and asks if you transported a patient named Patricia Gardner earlier in the day. She says that she is her friend and wants to know if she is okay. An appropriate response would be:
A) “She was treated for chest pain, but I cannot release her diagnosis for admission.”
B) “I do not doubt that you are her friend, but I cannot release that information.”
C) “I can tell you that she was transported to the hospital, but I cannot tell you why.”
D) “I cannot tell you that, but her family is at home and they can give you more information.”

Answer 25

B) “I do not doubt that you are her friend, but I cannot release that information.”

Question 26

You have been dispatched to a residence for an 88-year-old female who is in and out of consciousness. The family provides you with a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Assessment of the patient shows her to be very confused with a low blood pressure and low oxygen level. Which one of the following would be appropriate given the situation?
A) Provide care only if the patient’s heart stops beating.
B) Have the patient or family member sign a refusal and clear the scene.
C) Administer supplemental oxygen.
D) Provide transport but no additional care.

Answer 26

C) Administer supplemental oxygen.

Question 27

Which one of the following constitutes a breach of the EMT’s duty, placing him at risk for the charge of negligence?
A) Transporting a competent patient who does not want transport to the hospital
B) Applying oxygen to a patient who is not complaining of shortness of breath
C) Obtaining an informed and signed refusal from a competent patient with abdominal pain
D) Obtaining a refusal from a patient without obtaining vital signs

Answer 27

D) Obtaining a refusal from a patient without obtaining vital signs

Question 28

You have been called for a 96-year-old female with altered mental status. On scene the patient is unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. Family provides you with a valid DNR order. Which of the following signs would you document as a presumptive sign of her death?
A) Absent blood pressure 
B) Closed eyes 
C) Poor or weak reflexes 
D) Dilated pupils

Answer 28

A) Absent blood pressure

Question 29

You have moved to another state and wish to work as an EMT. In your previous state of employment, EMTs were allowed to administer a select number of drugs. To determine if EMTs can administer drugs in your new state of residence, you should check the:
A) State Emergency Medical Technicians Scope of Practice.
B) Emergency Medical Services Act of 1973.
C) Emergency Medical Technician-Basic: National Standard Curriculum.
D) National Highway and Transpiration Safety Agency: National Curriculum Standards.

Answer 29

A) State Emergency Medical Technicians Scope of Practice.

Question 30

A young male patient has suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Realizing that there is little chance for survival, the EMT notes that the patient is a potential organ donor. The patient is unresponsive and breathing four times a minute on scene. You are providing positive pressure ventilation. En route to the hospital, the patient stops breathing and loses a pulse. Since the patient is a potential organ donor, the EMT should:
A) ventilate the patient but not provide chest compressions.
B) perform CPR but not use the automated external defibrillator.
C) provide the same resuscitation as for a person who is not an organ donor.
D) stop any and all resuscitation measures.

Answer 30

C) provide the same resuscitation as for a person who is not an organ donor.

Question 31

A local politician has been involved in a motor vehicle collision. Witnesses state that they saw the man leave a bar. Then, just two miles down the road, he struck a utility pole head on. On scene and throughout transport, the patient is confused and combative. When leaving the hospital, a reporter asks you what happened and you state that it looks as though the politician may be drunk, but you are not sure. Your statement is printed in the newspaper. Later, it is determined that the man was not drunk, but rather he was a diabetic and his blood sugar was low. What charge could the politician levy against you?
A) Battery 
B) Litigation 
C) Slander 
D) Assault

Answer 31

C) Slander

Question 32

You have arrived at the emergency department with a patient complaining of nausea. The department is extremely busy and you are waiting to give a verbal report to the nurse or doctor. While waiting, dispatch contacts you over the radio and states that you are needed for a critically injured child. Your best action would be to:
A) go to the nurse’s station and provide the registered nurse with a quick report.
B) provide the certified nurse’s aide with a report of the patient’s condition.
C) leave the patient in the emergency department and take the call.
D) take the call and come back to give the report at a later time.

Answer 32

A) go to the nurse’s station and provide the registered nurse with a quick report.

Question 33

A patient’s spouse, who is a doctor, states that an EMT is negligent because he put his wife on low-concentration oxygen when she should have gotten high-concentration. The patient was having chest pain that was later determined to be caused by anxiety. She was released from the emergency department later in the day. Which one of the following statements is true?
A) Negligence is a distinct possibility since the patient was transported and treated in the emergency department.
B) Negligence cannot be proven since the EMT responded to the call and did render care.
C) The EMT cannot be proven negligent because that patient suffered no harm or damage.
D) Negligence can be proven because the protocol states high-concentration oxygen should be given.

Answer 33

C) The EMT cannot be proven negligent because that patient suffered no harm or damage.

Question 34

The EMT recognizes that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) limits the EMT’s ability to:
A) bill for services provided by the Emergency Medical Services.
B) transport a patient to a hospital of his or her choice.
C) exchange medical information regarding the patient.
D) obtain refusals on patients who do not have medical insurance.

Answer 34

C) exchange medical information regarding the patient.

Question 35

Which one of the following best illustrates an EMT upholding a high ethical standard?
A) Administering oxygen to patients who are short of breath
B) Providing care that goes beyond the scope of practice
C) Informing other health care providers of patients in the community with AIDS
D) Treating alcoholics and drug addicts with respect

Answer 35

D) Treating alcoholics and drug addicts with respect

Question 36

A paramedic was late in reregistering and now, according to the State EMS Agency, must function as an EMT until all of the reregistration requirements are satisfied. As an EMT, he is on the scene of a motor vehicle accident and taking care of a critically injured teenager. While waiting for a paramedic to arrive, he starts an IV, but does not hang the IV fluid that will be used to stabilize her by increasing her blood pressure. This is immediately done by a paramedic once he arrives. Which of the following is true?
A) The paramedic/EMT violated the scope of practice but cannot be held accountable since the patient was stabilized by his actions.
B) The paramedic/EMT violated the scope of practice and can be held accountable even though the patient survived.
C) The paramedic/EMT did not violated the scope of practice since the patient was critically injured and required life-saving care.
D) The paramedic/EMT did not violate the scope of practice since he is experienced with IV therapy.

Answer 36

B) The paramedic/EMT violated the scope of practice and can be held accountable even though the patient survived.

Question 37

A homeless patient is sick and is refusing transport. Since the temperature tonight will be near zero, the EMT picks up the patient and puts him on the cot. The patient continues to refuse, despite the EMT's explanation that it will be warm in the hospital and he will be fed. The patient is transported. Which one of the following could the EMT be charged with?
A) False imprisonment 
B) Negligence 
C) Battery 
D) Assault

Answer 37

A) False imprisonment

Question 38

Despite a patient’s protest not to have his blood pressure taken, the EMT places a BP cuff on his arm and takes his blood pressure. The EMT states: “See? It is just as I suspected, your blood pressure is sky high. You really need to be seen in the emergency department.” The patient states he did not realize that his blood pressure was that high. In terms of battery, which one of the following is true?
A) The patient could charge the EMT with assault, not battery.
B) The patient could charge the EMT with battery, regardless of his blood pressure reading.
C) Because the patient knows the result of the BP, the EMT is safe from battery.
D) Since the BP was elevated and treatment must be provided, battery cannot be charged.

Answer 38

B) The patient could charge the EMT with battery, regardless of his blood pressure reading.

Question 39

You are by the side of a female patient who has overdosed on a drug. She is conscious but very combative and noncompliant with your requests. Which one of the following statements made by the EMT best suggests assault?
A) “You win. I cannot get your blood pressure and the doctor is going to yell at me. I am going to blame you.”
B) “If that is the way you are going to behave, then I am not going to try to get your blood pressure anymore.”
C) “If you throw up in the back of my ambulance, I will use your shirt to clean it up. Just think about that for a minute.”
D) “If you do not let me get your blood pressure, I will take off the oxygen and you will suffocate.”

Answer 39

D) “If you do not let me get your blood pressure, I will take off the oxygen and you will suffocate.”

Question 40

In which one of the following situations would the Good Samaritan Law protect the EMT?
A) patient is paralyzed from the waist down because an off-duty EMT did not take the appropriate measures in caring for him.
B) An off-duty EMT stops at the scene of an auto collision and provides proper care, but the patient dies.
C) The EMT forgets to provide oxygen to a patient with chest pain and the patient suffers a heart attack as a result.
D) A paramedic orders an EMT to administer a medication that the EMT legally may not give, and the patient dies as a result.

Answer 40

B) An off-duty EMT stops at the scene of an auto collision and provides proper care, but the patient dies.

Question 41

While off duty, an EMT comes on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. A young man has been seriously injured and is bleeding. The EMT is alone with his baby daughter in the car and cannot leave her to provide help. Therefore, he alerts 911 of the emergency and drives away. Later in the week, he finds out that the patient died. Which one of the following is true?
A) The EMT had a legal obligation to help and can be held liable for the death.
B) The EMT had no duty to act and cannot be held liable for the man’s death.
C) The EMT must go to court and explain that he did not help because of his daughter.
D) The EMT violated the state standard of care by not providing some form of care.

Answer 41

B) The EMT had no duty to act and cannot be held liable for the man’s death

Question 42

While transferring a patient from her house to the ambulance, one of the EMTs slips on a patch of ice and falls. The stretcher overturns, and the patient suffers a broken wrist. She files a lawsuit in civil court alleging negligence. For the patient, which of the following will be the most difficult component of negligence to prove?
A) Proximate cause 
B) Duty to act 
C) Damage 
D) Implied consent

Answer 42

A) Proximate cause

Question 43

Regarding an EMT’s duty to act, the relationship between an EMT and patient starts:
A) once the EMT begins to provide physical care.
B) once the patient consents to be treated.
C) once the EMT is dispatched to the call.
D) once the EMT makes physical contact with the patient.

Answer 43

D) once the EMT makes physical contact with the patient.

Question 44

Your EMS station has been designated a Baby Safe Haven. As such, you know that:
A) you are legally required to provide basic supplies (e.g., bottles and diapers) to the mother or father.
B) you are legally required to provide the mother or father with resources to assist in the care of the baby.
C) a mother or father can bring his or her baby to the station for basic care issues.
D) a mother or father can drop the baby off and leave with no questions asked.

Answer 44

D) a mother or father can drop the baby off and leave with no questions asked.

Question 45

Involuntary consent would most likely apply to:
A) a 23-year-old prisoner with a laceration to the right cheek and refusing care.
B) a 3-year-old boy found wandering in the street with abrasions and cuts on his feet.
C) a confused elderly woman who is in the presence of her acting Power of Attorney.
D) an alert and oriented 34-year-old male who is coughing up blood and refusing care.

Answer 45

A) a 23-year-old prisoner with a laceration to the right cheek and refusing care.

Question 46

A pregnant woman is choking inside a local restaurant. Who has the legal duty to act?
A) An EMS supervisor who just came into the restaurant and is on a week’s vacation
B) An off-duty EMT who just finished eating and is headed to the bathroom
C) A retired paramedic who just finished eating and is paying his bill
D) EMTs from another county eating lunch after dropping off a patient at a local hospital

Answer 46

D) EMTs from another county eating lunch after dropping off a patient at a local hospital

Question 47

You have been called to a local emergency department to transfer a 67-year-old male to another facility. At the hospital, the emergency physician informs you that the patient and his family have requested the transfer because his doctor is affiliated with the other hospital. At bedside, you see that the patient is receiving an antibiotic through an IV. Though your state does allow EMTs to perform non-emergent transports of patients receiving normal saline through an IV, it does not allow transport of patients receiving IV medications. When informed of this, the physician states that the antibiotic will be done in 10 minutes and that he will give written permission to start the transport while the medication is infusing. Which one of the following EMT actions would be most appropriate at this time?
A) Stop the IV infusion and transport the patient.
B) Transfer the patient once all of the medication is infused.
C) Recognize a HIPAA violation and refuse the transport.
D) Follow the doctor’s order as long as he writes and signs it.

Answer 47

B) Transfer the patient once all of the medication is infused.

Question 48

The EMT realizes which of the following is true regarding medical tattoos?
A) Cannot legally be honored at this time
B) May look similar to other tattooed body art
C) Is located on the right wrist of the patient
D) Appears as a red cross in a white or gray circle

Answer 48

B) May look similar to other tattooed body art

Question 49

A plaintiff is suing an EMT in civil court for alleged improper care and resultant injury. Which of the following is true?
A) The EMT is facing a very serious criminal charge.
B) If found guilty, the EMT will face jail time or probation.
C) The government is the lead agency that is prosecuting the EMT.
D) If the suit is successful, the plaintiff will most likely be awarded money.

Answer 49

D) If the suit is successful, the plaintiff will most likely be awarded money.

Question 50

You have been asked to review a legal case in which a patient intentionally overdosed on heroin and then died after EMS arrived because they did not have a bag-valve mask to ventilate the nonbreathing patient. The evidence indicates that the EMT and paramedics both signed their morning equipment check indicating that they had inspected the ambulance and had all the necessary equipment to do their job. In this case, you would realize:
A) the EMT and paramedic can seek protection under the Good Samaritan Act.
B) the EMT and paramedic are not responsible since the patient intentionally overdosed.
C) the EMT and paramedic will most likely be charged with contributory negligence.
D) the EMT and paramedic were negligent in caring for the patient.

Answer 50

D) the EMT and paramedic were negligent in caring for the patient.

Question 51

You are approached by a college student who states that his college is working with a physician on a project that examines the types of violent trauma occurring within your jurisdiction. He then asks you if he may see copies of all patient care reports that involved patients who were either stabbed or shot. Who would be the best person to contact regarding this request?
A) The state department of EMS
B) Your service’s medical director
C) The physician overseeing the research project
D) Your service’s privacy officer

Answer 51

D) Your service’s privacy officer

Question 52

A patient who was transported by EMS for a laceration on her arm is suing the service and the hospital because her laceration became infected, resulting in loss of the extremity. However, it becomes known that the patient was appropriately treated by EMS and the emergency department, but failed to seek follow-up medical care at a health clinic and did not take the antibiotics that were prescribed to her. Which one of the following would most likely be used by the medical community as a defense in this case?
A) Intentional tort 
B) Contributory negligence 
C) Res ipsa loquitor 
D) Proximate cause

Answer 52

B) Contributory negligence

Question 53

A male EMT was discussing a patient’s medical condition with a female EMT from a different service. The woman then repeated this information to others, which eventually made its way back to the patient. In regards to issues of confidentiality, which one of the following is true?
A) The male EMT violated the HIPAA law.
B) The male EMT could be changed with slander.
C) The female EMT committed an EMTALA violation.
D) Both EMTs violated EMTALA regulations.

Answer 53

A) The male EMT violated the HIPAA law.

Question 54

You have been called to transfer a trauma patient from a rural hospital emergency department to the emergency department of a large urban medical center. Which one of the following will best decrease your chance of becoming involved in an EMTALA violation?
A) Assessing the patient for stability prior to transfer
B) Taking vital signs every 5 minutes during transport
C) Determining the exact location to which the patient is to be transported
D) Obtaining a copy of the patient’s insurance and billing information

Answer 54

A) Assessing the patient for stability prior to transfer

Question 55

Many states require EMTs to report which one of the following to law enforcement?
A) Physical and mental abuse
B) Drug addiction and drug-related crimes
C) Refusal of EMS services
D) Alcohol abuse and child abuse

Answer 55

A) Physical and mental abuse

Question 56

The highest priority for the EMT working on a patient at the scene of a crime is:
A) providing medical information to law enforcement.
B) ensuring personal safety.
C) administering quality patient care.
D) preserving potential evidence.

Answer 56

B) ensuring personal safety.

Question 57

A 22-year-old female has been assaulted and taken to the emergency department. With regards to the release of confidential medical information, which one of the following may receive information related to her injuries without her consent?
A) Patient's mother 
B) Crisis counselor 
C) State police 
D) Patient's boyfriend

Answer 57

C) State police

Question 58

In discussing an EMS response that involved potential negligence, your medical director asks you to determine if the statute of limitations is active. As a knowledgeable EMT, you understand that you will need to determine which one of the following?
A) If there is proximate cause that can be linked to the bad outcome
B) The exact action committed that is the basis for a negligence charge
C) The amount of money that can be awarded to the patient and family
D) If the time for the patient to file a lawsuit has passed

Answer 58

D) If the time for the patient to file a lawsuit has passed

Question 59

During orientation, an EMT is told that by the nature of his employment, he is covered by sovereign immunity. Based on this statement, the EMT must:
A) work for a non-profit, privately owned hospital.
B) be immune from claims of negligence.
C) provide services for a volunteer EMS agency.
D) work for a public EMS agency.

Answer 59

D) work for a public EMS agency.