Legal and Ethical Principles of Emergency Care: Handout 2-2, 2-3, 2-4

what are some ways in which you can assist the police, even while performing patient care

- don't touch any potential evidence - make sure you don't cut the clothes where the wound is - report what you're doing

_ consent may consist of verbal consent, a nod, or an affirming gesture from a competent adult

expressed

HANDOUT 2-4: True or False an advance directive is a legal document that can appoint a person to make medical decisions for a patient who is unable to do so

true

breach of duty is a failure to perform a required assessment or treatment or the incorrect performance of an action

true

patients with an altered mental status should not be allowed to refuse care

true

scope of practice is a set of regulations and laws that designate how an emergency medical responder legally functions

true

the health information portability and accountability act (HIPAA) identifies protected health information that cannot be disclosed to others except in certain situations

true

honesty, compassion, and advocacy are important _ approaches to EMS

ethical

when you enter a crime scene to provide patient care, you do not need to be concerned about destroying evidence because patient care is all that matters

false

HANDOUT 2-2: The Call: A Crime Scene All the ambulances from your station are presently tied up on calls, so you are dispatched to handle a possible shooting. When you arrive at the scene, a police officer assures you that the scene is safe and secured. You take standard precautions, grab your jump kit, and step out of your vehicle. Just then a woman runs from the house, screaming for you to help her husband. When you enter the house, you immediately see a police officer and overturned chairs, broken lamps, and a trail of blood leading into the next room. Following the officer's directions, you find a man, appearing to be in his mid-50s, lying on the floor and bleeding. His wife is behind you, yelling that someone broke into the house and shot him. what instructions should you give to the rest of your crew before they enter the scene?

- make it aware it's a crime scene and to be cautious about touching or moving anything - get patient information

leaving a sick or injured patient before equally or more highly trained personnel assume responsibility for patient care is called _

abandonment

a(n) _ adult is one who has the mental capacity to make informed decision about medical care

competent

by law, a patient must first _ or give permission, before an emergency medical responder may provide care

consent

an advance _ such as a DNR order, is written prior to an emergency and must be signed by both the patient and a physician

directive

a(n) _ minor is one who is married, pregnant, a parent, or in the armed forces, or who has the rights of an adult with permission of the courts

emancipated

Protocols are verbal instructions given over the radio that are universal to all emergency medical situations

false

a 10-year-old who has been hit on his bicycle can be treated by emergency medical responders if he is alert enough to give expressed consent

false

abandonment allows and emergency medical responder to leave a patient before an ambulance arrives for transport as long as the patient is not seriously sick or injured

false

if an emergency medical responder is a mandatory reporter for a suspected crime, he/she still can't disclose patient information unless he/she is ordered to do so by a judge's order

false

_ consent may be applied when an unresponsive patient is at risk of death, disability, or deterioration of condition

implied

HANDOUT 2-3: Chapter 2 Review _ are written guidelines or instructions that describe appropriate assessment and care in specific situations

protocols

the _ of practice defines the actions that are legally allowed for an emergency medical responder

scope