Emergency Care - EMT Basic Chapter 4

Question 1

What is scope of practice?

Answer 1

a set of regulations and ethical considerations that define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT’s job

Question 2

What is the standard of care?

Answer 2

for an EMT providing care for a specific patient in a specific situation, the care that would be expected to be provided by an EMT with similar training when caring for a patient in a similar situation.

Question 3

What is consent?

Answer 3

permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT

Question 4

What are the three types of consent?

Answer 4

• Expressed
• Implied
• Consent to treat minors or incompetent patients

Question 5

What is expressed consent?

Answer 5

consent given by adults who are of legal age and mentally competent to make a rational decision in regard to their medical well-being.

Question 6

What is implied consent?

Answer 6

the consent it is presumed a patient or patient’s parent or guardian would give if they could, such as for an unconscious patient or a parent who cannot be contacted when care is needed.

Question 7

Who is not legally allowed to provide consent or refuse medical care and transportation?

Answer 7

Children and mentally incompetent adults

Question 8

in place of the parents, indicating a person who may give consent for care of a child when the parents are not present or able to give consent

Answer 8

in loco parentis

Question 9

In order for a patient to refuse care, what conditions must be met?

Answer 9

• Patient must be legally able to consent
• Patient must be mentally competent and oriented.
• Patient must be fully informed.
• Patient will be asked to sign a “release” form.

Question 10

What can you do to persuade a patient who you feel should go to the hospital but refused?

Answer 10

• Spend time speaking with the patient
• Inform the patient of the consequences of not going to the hospital
• Consult medical direction
• Ask the patient if it is all right if you call a family member - or advise the patient that you would like to call a family member
• Call law enforcement personnel if necessary
• Listen carefully to try to determine why the patient is refusing care.

Question 11

a legal document, usually signed by the patient and his/her physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts.

Answer 11

do not resuscitate (DNR) order

Question 12

A DNR order, instructions written in advance of an event.

Answer 12

advance directive

Question 13

statements signed by the patient, usually regarding use of long-term life support and comfort measures such as respirators, intravenous feedings, and pain medications.

Answer 13

living wills

Question 14

What is a proxy?

Answer 14

a person whom the signer of the document names to make health care decisions in case he is unable to make such decisions for himself.

Question 15

What is negligence?

Answer 15

a finding of failure to act in a situation in which there was duty to act, that needed care as would reasonably be expected of the EMT was not provided, and that harm was caused to the patient as a result. (something that should have been done was not done or was done incorrectly)

Question 16

What circumstances must be proved in order to be negligent?

Answer 16

• The EMT had a duty to the patient
• The EMT did not provide the standard of care
• There was proximate causation (the concept that the damages to the patient were the result of action or inaction of the EMT)

Question 17

The proceedings or lawsuits against EMTs are usually classified as ________.

Answer 17

torts

Question 18

What is a tort?

Answer 18

a civil, not a criminal, offense

Question 19

What concept is used in tort law?

Answer 19

res ipsa loquitur - a Latin term meaning “the thing speaks for itself”

Question 20

What are the two most common and significant causes of lawsuits against EMTs?

Answer 20

• Patient Refusal

- Ambulance Collisions

Question 21

an obligation to provide care to a patient.

Answer 21

duty to act

Question 22

leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training

Answer 22

abandonment

Question 23

regarding personal standards or principles or right and wrong

Answer 23

moral

Question 24

regarding a social system or social or professional expectations for applying principles of right and wrong

Answer 24

ethical

Question 25

a series of laws, varying in each state, designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administering emergency care

Answer 25

Good Samaritan Laws

Question 26

the obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health care professionals involved in the patient's care, or under subpoena, or in a court of law, or when the patient has signed a release of confidentiality

Answer 26

confidentiality

Question 27

What does HIPPA stand for?

Answer 27

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Question 28

What does the HIPPA do?

Answer 28

a federal law protecting the privacy of patient-specific health care information and providing the patient with control over how this information is used and distributed.

Question 29

False or injurious information in written form.

Answer 29

libel

Question 30

False or injurious information stated verbally.

Answer 30

slander

Question 31

A law that permits a person to drop off an infant or child at a police, fire, or EMS station or to deliver the infant or child to any available public safety personnel.

Answer 31

safe haven law

Question 32

What should you do at a crime scene?

Answer 32

1. Always provide patient care first 2. Try to preserve evidence and minimize your impact - remember how you found the scene - avoid unnecessarily moving or touching things - remember what you touch - do not cut through holes left in clothing by bullets or knives