Consent and Patient Rights
What is the term for a patient’s voluntary agreement to receive medical treatment after being informed of risks and benefits?
Informed Consent
This legal term describes a failure to act with the care expected of a reasonably trained EMR.
Negligence
This defines the specific procedures and actions an EMR is legally allowed to perform.
Scope of Practice
This is the obligation an EMR has to provide care once they begin treating a patient.
Duty to Act
The manner in which an individual must act or behave when giving care is called
standard of care.
This type of consent is assumed when a patient is unconscious and in immediate danger, allowing EMRs to provide life-saving care.
Implied Consent
What document, carried by some patients, instructs EMRs not to perform CPR or other life-saving measures?
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
What must an EMR document after every patient encounter to ensure continuity of care and legal protection?
Patient Care Report (PCR)
What law often protects EMRs from lawsuits when providing care in good faith during an emergency?
Good Samaritan Law
Consent based on the assumption that an unconscious patient would approve lifesaving interventions is called
implied consent.
What must an EMR obtain from a conscious, competent adult before providing any treatment or transport?
Expressed Consent
This occurs when an EMR leaves a patient in need of care without transferring them to another qualified provider.
Abandonment
This federal law protects patient health information and imposes strict rules on how EMRs handle confidential information.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
This term refers to harm caused by an EMR’s failure to follow standard procedures, like not immobilizing a spine.
Breach of Duty
If an EMR with a duty to act fails to provide the standard of care, and if this failure causes harm or injury to the patient, the EMR may be accused of
negligence.
This legal doctrine allows a minor’s guardian to make medical decisions when the minor cannot consent themselves.
Parental Consent
What legal principle requires EMRs to report suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities?
Mandatory Reporting
What should an EMR do if a family member demands treatment against the patient’s wishes?
Follow the patient’s decision
This type of legal action might occur if an EMR falsifies a patient care report to hide a mistake. (not criminal)
Civil Lawsuit
What is the most important thing to do when dealing with a patient who is displaying violent behavior?
Ensure personal safety.
What is the term for a patient’s right to refuse treatment, even if it may lead to their death, as long as they are competent?
Autonomy, Right to refuse
This term describes a patient’s ability to make their own medical decisions if they understand the consequences.
Competence
What ethical issue arises if an EMR accepts a gift from a patient after a call?
Conflict of Interest
What must an EMR do if a patient reveals they plan to harm themselves?
Report to authorities
Name an obvious sign of death in the EMS field.
Decapitation, dependent lividity, rigor mortis, tissue decomposition