3 Medical, Legal, and Ethics

Question 1

abandonment

Answer 1

unilateral termination of care by EMT without patient’s consent and without transferring responsibility of care to another person of equal or higher training

Question 2

advanced directive aka living will or health care directive

Answer 2

written documentation specifying medical treatment for a patient should they ever become unable to make decisions

Question 3

assault

Answer 3

unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm

Question 4

battery

Answer 4

unlawfully touching a patient or even providing emergency care without consent

Question 5

compensatory damages

Answer 5

money awarded in civil lawsuit intended to restore plaintiff to same condition they were in prior incident

Question 6

contributory negligence

Answer 6

legal defense where the defendant feels the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to the injuries or damage they sustained

Question 7

decision making capacity

Answer 7

ability to understand and process information, then make an informed decision

Question 8

dependent lividity

Answer 8

blood settling to lowest point of body causing discoloration of the skin, usually a definitive sign of death

Question 9

depositions

Answer 9

questions asked to parties and witness under oath

Question 10

do not resuscitate (DNR) orders

Answer 10

written documentation by physician giving permission to medical personnel not to resuscitate in event of cardiac arrest

Question 11

emergency doctrine

Answer 11

principle of law that permits EMS provider to treat a patient incapable of granting consent 2/2 ALOC, disability, effects of drugs or alcohol, or age

Question 12

expressed consent

Answer 12

patient gives verbal or obvious nonverbal authorization for treatment

Question 13

false imprisonment

Answer 13

confinement of a person without legal authority or a person’s consent

Question 14

gross negligence

Answer 14

conduct of willful or reckless disregard for a duty of care

Question 15

implied consent

Answer 15

consent in which patient who is unable to give consent is given Tx under legal assumption they would want Tx

Question 16

in loco parentis

Answer 16

legal responsibility of a person or organization to take some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent

Question 17

libel

Answer 17

false and damaging information about a person in writing

Question 18

negligence

Answer 18

failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide

Question 19

proximate causation

Answer 19

when a person who has a duty abuses it and causes harm to another person, then the EMT and/or company in charge may be sued for negligence

Question 20

putrefaction

Answer 20

decomposition of body tissues, usually a sign of death

Question 21

res ipsa loquitor

Answer 21

when an EMT or the EMS system is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to demonstrate how the injury occurred

Question 22

rigor mortis

Answer 22

stiffening of the body, a definitive sign of death

Question 23

statute of limitations

Answer 23

the time within which a case must be commenced

Question 24

tort

Answer 24

a wrongful act that gives rise to a civil lawsuit