EMT Chapter 3 Study Guide
In many states, a minor may be treated as an adult for the purpose of consenting to or refusing medical treatment if the minor:
is self-supporting and lives by him- or herself
You suspect that a 6-year-old girl has broken her leg after falling from a swing at a playground. Shortly after you arrive, the child's mother appears and refuses to allow you to continue treatment. You should:
try to persuade the mother that treatment is needed
Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) most affects EMS personnel?
protecting patient privacy
What section of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPAA) most affects EMS personnel?
protecting patient prvacy
Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel?
protecting privacy
To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should always:
provide competent care the meets current standards
You and your partner are the first to arrive at a potential crime scene with a critical injured patient involved. The scene is safe. Your first priority is to:
provide immediate patient care
You are dispatched to a middle school for a 16-year-old female experiencing an asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in severe respiratory distress. The school nurse informs you that she has tried several times to contact the patient's parents but has not been successful. You should:
provide treatment up to your level of training and transport the child at once
Your best protection against legal liability when a competent patient refuses EMS care and transport is to:
thoroughly document the entire event
contributary negligence
A legal defense that may be raised when the defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff.
duty to act
A medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care.
As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of:
Another EMT.
protected health information (PHI)
Any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient's medical record or payment history.
breach of confidentiality
Disclosure of information without proper authorization.
Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wished to be an organ donor?
Driver's license
To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have
a privacy officer answer questions
In which of the following situations does the EMT not have a legal duty to act?
a response to a motor vehicle crash while off duty
Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?
Expressed
negligence
Failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide.
slander
False and damaging information about a person that is communicated by the spoken word.
libel
False and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has a head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:
Have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.
governmental immunity
If your service is covered by immunity, it may mean that you cannot be sued or it may limit the amount of the monetary judgment that the plaintiff may recover; generally applies only to EMS services that are operated by municipalities or other governmental entities.
emergency medical care
Immediate care or treatment.
In regards to patient refusal of care your paperwork should:
Include your assessment findings.
Good Samaritan laws
Statutory provisions enacted by many states to protect citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good faith emergency medical care, unless there is wanton, gross, or willful negligence.
rigor mortis
Stiffening of the body; a definitive sign of death.
forcible restraint
The act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action.
defamation
The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person's reputation or standing in the community.
false imprisonment
The confinement of a person without legal authority or the person's consent.
applied ethics
The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct.
In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information?
The patient is competent and signs a release form.
discovery
The phase of a civil suit where the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the attorneys to have a better understanding of the case, which will assist them in negotiating a possible settlement or in preparing for trial. Discovery includes depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of records.
ethics
The philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior.
emergency doctrine
The principle of law that permits a health care provider to treat a patient in an emergency situation when the patient is incapable of granting consent because of an altered level of consciousness, disability, the effects of drugs or alcohol, or the patient's age.
licensure
The process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows individuals to perform a regulated act.
patient autonomy
The right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care.
kidnapping
The seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force, including transporting a competent adult for medical treatment without his or her consent.
bioethics
The study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care.
statute of limitations
The time within which a case must be commenced.
battery
Touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent.
proximate causation
When a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual; the EMT, the agency, and/or the medical director may be sued for negligence.
res ipsa loquitor
When the EMT or an EMS service is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred.
When is forcible restraint permitted?
When the patient poses significant threat to self or others
depositions
Oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath.
In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist?
A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change
morality
A code of conduct that can be defined by society, religion, or a person, affecting character, conduct, and conscience.
Shortly after loading your patient, a 50-year-old man with abdominal pain, into the ambulance, he tells you that he changed his mind and does not want to go to the hospital. He is conscious and alert and has no signs of mental incapacitation. You are suspicious that the man has a significant underlying condition and feel strongly that he should go to the hospital. Which of the following statements regarding this situation is correct?
A mentally competent adult can withdraw his or her consent to treat at any time
Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct?
A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated
Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct: expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member, a patient can consent transport but legally refuse to be treated, all patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport, patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment.
A patient can consent to transport but legally refuse to be treated
emancipated minors
A person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult.
To help protect patients. EMS agencies are required to have _________.
A privacy officer to answer questions
certification
A process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care.
emergency
A serious situation, such as injury or illness, that threatens the life or welfare of a person or group of people and requires immediate intervention.
medicolegal
A term relating to medical jurisprudence (law) or forensic medicine.
negligence per se
A theory that may be used when the conduct of the person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statute.
durable power of attorney for health care
A type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity.
health care proxies
A type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity. Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care.
expressed consent
A type of consent in which a patient gives express authorization for provision of care or transport.
health care directive
A written document that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient, should he or she become unable to make decisions. Also known as an advance directive or a living will.
tort
A wrongful act that gives rise to a civil suit.
In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist? Select one: A. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change. B. The EMT hears of a cardiac arrest after his or her shift ends. C. A bystander encounters a victim who is not breathing. D. The EMT witnesses a vehicle crash while off duty. Feedback
A. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change.
Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel? Select one: A. Protecting patient privacy B. Ensuring access to insurance C. Controlling insurance costs D. Preventing insurance fraud
A. Protecting patient privacy
You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do? Select one: A. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. B. Treat the child at the scene and wait for the parents to arrive and give consent. C. Withhold treatment until the parents arrive and give you consent for treatment. D. Begin transport at once and have the parents meet you en route to the hospital.
A. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should: Select one: A. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. B. ventilate the patient for 5 minutes and then stop if there is no response. C. request the fire department to extricate the patient so you can begin CPR. D. stop any active bleeding and advise dispatch to send a paramedic crew.
A. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.
The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the: Select one: A. medical director. B. EMS supervisor. C. local health district. D. state EMS office.
A. medical director.
decision-making capacity
Ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care.
competent
Able to make rational decisions about personal well-being.
During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMT system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and the discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you:
Are in violation of HIPPA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand.
You are transporting your patient to the hospital when she becomes agitated and tries to release herself from the gurney. You tell her "Stop moving or I'll sit on you"! This could be considered:
Assault.
Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor? Select one: A. Voter registration card B. Driver's license C. Insurance card D. Social Security card
B. Driver's license
In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information? Select one: A. A police officer requests a copy to place on file B. The patient is competent and signs a release form C. A media representative inquires about the patient D. The family requests a copy for insurance purposes Feedback
B. The patient is competent and signs a release form
When is forcible restraint permitted? Select one: A. Only if consent to restrain is given by a family member B. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others C. Only if law enforcement personnel have witnessed threatening behavior D. Anytime that the EMT feels threatened
B. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others
You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should: Select one: A. honor the patient's wishes and withhold all treatment. B. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed. C. transport the patient without providing any treatment. D. decide on further action once the DNR order is produced.
B. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed.
Putrefaction is defined as: Select one: A. separation of the torso from the rest of the body. B. decomposition of the body's tissues. C. profound cyanosis to the trunk and face. D. blood settling to the lowest point of the body.
B. decomposition of the body's tissues.
When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to: Select one: A. contact medical control on every EMS call. B. exercise reasonable care and act prudently. C. function above his or her scope of practice. D. consistently exceed the standard of care.
B. exercise reasonable care and act prudently.
precedence
Basing current action on lessons, rules, or guidelines derived from previous similar experiences.
You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is no DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should:
Begin treatment and contact medical control as needed.
dependent lividity
Blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin.
As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on: Select one: A. the wishes of the general public. B. a consensus among paramedic supervisors. C. locally accepted protocols. D. the priorities of the medical director.
C. locally accepted protocols.
Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include: Select one: A. making brief notes at the scene and then completing them later. B. placing the patient in a private area until the police arrive. C. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. D. quickly moving any weapons out of the patient's sight. Feedback
C. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons.
gross negligence
Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care.
You are called to attend to an elderly patient with with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient has a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should:
Confirm the patient's identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet.
Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct? Select one: A. Patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment. B. All patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport. C. Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member. D. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated.
D. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated.
Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence? Select one: A. Breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation B. Abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation C. Duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation D. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation
D. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation
Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital? Select one: A. Informed B. Formal C. Implied D. Expressed
D. Expressed
To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have __________. Select one: A. public forums with their medical director B. online access to patient records C. an anonymous reporting system D. a privacy officer to answer questions
D. a privacy officer to answer questions
During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you: Select one: A. acted appropriately but must have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others. B. adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally. C. violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved. D. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand.
D. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand.
You are called to attend to an elderly patient with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient has a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should: Select one: A. confirm the patient's identity and honor the DNR order. B. initiate resuscitation in the absence of paperwork. C. transport with minimal care. D. confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet.
D. confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet.
compensatory damages
Damages awarded in a civil suit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident complained about in the lawsuit.
punitive damages
Damages that are sometimes awarded in a civil suit when the conduct of the defendant was intentional or constituted a reckless disregard for the safety of the public.
putrefaction
Decomposition of body tissues.
Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct: patient care cannot be discredited based on poor documentation, it is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report, EMTs are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented, incomplete reports are common and accepted in EMS.
It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report
Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct?
It is difficult to prove actions were preformed if they are not included on the report.
Which of the following statements regarding the Good Samaritan Law is correct?
It will not protect someone who expects to be paid for the care provided.
Which of the following statements regarding the Good Samaritan law is correct?
It will not protect the EMT in cases of gross negligence
As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on:
Locally accepted protocols.
scope of practice
Most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care you are able to provide for the patient.
In the eyes of the law, a poorly written patient care form indicates that:
Patient care was incomplete or inexpert.
informed consent
Permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained.
consent
Permission to render care.
Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personal?
Protecting patient privacy
in loco parentis
Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.
You are called to the scene of a medical emergency. While loading you unconscious patient into the ambulance the patients arm gets caught between the gurney and the ambulance and is broken. You could be held liable for negligence under this legal theory.
Res ipsa loquitor.
You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and had multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene is approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?
Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital
You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?
Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital.
You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?
Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital.
implied consent
Type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment.
abandonment
Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient's consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient.
assault
Unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm.
do not resuscitate (DNR) orders
Written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel to not attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest.
advance directive
Written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or health care directive.
interrogatories
Written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one other.
standard of care
Written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm.
Which of the following scenarios most accurately depicts abandonment?
a paramedic transfers patient care to an EMT
Which of the following general statements regarding consent is most correct?
a patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated
Which of the following scenarios most accurately depicts informed consent?
an EMT advises a patient of the risk of receiving treatment
As an EMT, the performance or your duties will be compared to that of:
another EMT
During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you:
are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand
During your monthly internal quality(QI) improvement meeting, you review several patient care reports(PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you:
are in violation of HIPPA because you did not remove from the PCR beforhand
Acting in such a way as to make another person fear immediate bodily harm is called:
assault
A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should:
assess whether or not the patient's mental condition is impared
Which of the following situations requires you to notify the appropriate authorities?
attempted suicide
You have been tasked by your director to assist in the development of your EMS agency's institutional standards. When developing these standards, it is important to:
be reasonable and realistic to avoid overburdening your personnel
When faced with a situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest, and a valid living will or DNR order cannot be located you should:
begin resuscitation at once
You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious, has slow, shallow breathing, and has week pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient; however, they are unable to locate it. You should:
begin treatment and contact medical control as needed
You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should:
begin treatment and contact medical control as needed
You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not with to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for the patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should ___.
begin treatment and contact medical control as needed
When you and your partner arrive at the residence of a man in cardiac arrest, you immediately recognize the patient as the drunk driver who killed your brother several years earlier. A backup ambulance is en route to the scene. You should:
begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the automated external defibrillator(AED) as soon as possible
In order for a do not resuscitate(DNR) order to be valid, it must:
clearly state the patient's medical problem
You are called to attend to an elderly patient with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient had a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should ___.
confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicALERT Foundation number on the bracelet
You are called to attend to an elderly patient with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient has a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should:
confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet
While transporting a woman with diabetes, you inadvertently give her oral glucose even though her blood glucose level was high. You reassess the patient and note that her condition did not change; she remained stable. You should:
contact medical control and notify him or her of the error
While transporting a stable patient with chest pain to the hospital, you come across a major motor vehicle crash involving several critically injured patients. Your most appropriate action should be to:
continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash
Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct? Select one: a. EMTs are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented. b. Incomplete reports are common and accepted in EMS. c. Patient care cannot be discredited based on poor documentation. d. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report.
d. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report.
Putrefaction is defined as:
decomposition of the body's tissue
You arrive at the scene of an apparent death. When evaluating the patient, which of the following is a defective sign of death?
dependent lividity
Which of the following most accurately defines negligence?
deviation from the standard care that may result in further injury
An EMT would most likely be held liable for abandonment if he or she:
did not make provisions for continued care of an injured patient
Where would you most likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor?
driver's license
Where would you must likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor?
driver's license
Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor?
drivers license
Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence: abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation; duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation; breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation; duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation.
duty to act, breach of duty, injury or damages, and causation
Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence?
duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation
You are dispatched to an office building for a 49-year-old male with chest pain. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient to be conscious and alert, but in obvious pain. He tells you that he did not call 911; a coworker did. He further states that he does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. You should:
ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care
When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to:
exercise reasonable care and act prudently
What type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?
expressed
You suspect that a pregnant 16-year-old girl has broken her leg after she was hit by a car. You explain that you plan to splint her leg, and she agrees to treatment. What type of consent is her agreement considered?
expressed
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:
have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:
have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should ___.
have your partner check for a pulse to confirm the patient is deceased.
Which of the following types of consent allows treatment of a patient who is unconscious or mentally incapacitated?
implied
As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on: incomplete reports are common and accepted in EMS, EMTs are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented, it is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included in the report, patient care cannot be discredited based on poor documentation.
it is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report
If an action or procedure that was performed on a patient is not recorded on the written report:
it was not performed in the eyes of the law
Two EMT's witnessed a call in which a coworker gave adequate medical care but ignored the patient's emotional needs. The coworker was deliberately rude solely because the patient was thought to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV). The EMT's ignored the coworker's treatment of this patient and took no steps to prevent this behavior from happening again. This lack of action on the part of the two EMT's is considered
legal but unethical
Which of the following is not considered to be protected health information(PHI)?
location of the call
At the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you identify a patient as an organ donor. When triaging the other patients, you:
may have to assign the donor patient a lower triage priority
The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the:
medical director
When caring for a 65-year-old male with respiratory distress, you place him in a comfortable position but do not apply oxygen. The patient's condition continues to deteriorate and he develops cardiac arrest and dies at the hospital. This scenario is an example of:
negligence
Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include:
not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons
You are treating a man with a closed head injury following an assault by a burglar. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should:
proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement if necessary
You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a shooting. Law enforcement personnel are present and have the suspect in custody. You find the patient lying in a narrow space between the couch and coffee table of his small apartment. He is semiconscious and has a large gunshot wound to his chest. You should:
quickly move the coffee table so you can access and treat the patient
The manner in which the EMT must act or behave when caring for a patient is called the:
standard of care
In the eyes of the court, an incomplete or untidy patient care form indicates:
that inadequate patient care was administered
