Post Eval Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues

In the eyes of the courts, an incomplete or untidy patient care form indicates: A. the EMT was too busy providing patient care to fill out the form B. potential falsification of the patient care form C. inadequate patient care was administered D. thorough documentation was not required.

Inadequate patient care was administered

To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should: A. always transport patients to the hospital of their choice B. provide competent care that meets current standards C. use universal precautions with every patient encounter D. utilize at least four personnel when moving patient

Provide competent care that meets current standards

Shortly after you load your patients 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. The patient 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. Because of your suspicions, the best approach is to transport him to the hospital B. Once the patient is in the ambulance, he cannot legally refuse EMS treatment. C. A mentally competent adult can withdraw their consent to treat at any time. D. Any patient who refuses EMS treatment must legally sign a patient refusal form.

A mentally competent adult can withdraw their consent to treat at any time

In which of the following situation does a legal duty to act clearly exist? A. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change B. The EMT hears of a cardiac arrest after their shift ends C. The EMT witnesses a vehicle crash while off duty D. A bystander encounters a victim who is not breathing

A. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change

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? A. Expressed B. Implied C. Informed D. Formal

A. Expressed

In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information? A. The patient is competent and signs a release form B. A media representative inquires about the patient C. The family requests a copy for insurance purposes D. A police officer requests a copy to place on file

A. The patient is competent and signs a release form

You arrive at the scene of a Moto 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? 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

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: A. request that the police place the patient under protective custody. B. document the patient's request but continue to transport him C. assess whether the patient's mental condition is impaired D. have the patient sign a refusal form and return him to his office

Assess whether the patient's mental condition is impaired

Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts abandonment? A. An EMT gives a verbal report to an emergency room nurse. B. A paramedic transfers patient care to an EMT C. A physician assumes patient care from an EMT D. An AEMT transfers patient care to a paramedic

B. A paramedic transfers care to an EMT

Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct? A. Patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment. B. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. C. Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member. D. All patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport

B. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated

Where would you MOSt likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor? A. Social Security card B. Driver's license C. Voter registration card D. Insurance card

B. Driver's license

Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel? A. Ensuring access to insurance B. Protecting patient privacy C. Preventing insurance fraud D. Controlling insurance costs

B. Protecting patient privacy

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: A. adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally B. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand C. violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved. D. acted appropriately but much have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others.

B. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand.

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: A. obtain permission from medical control to not attempt resuscitation B. begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible. C. advise your partner that you cannot provide care to this patient. D. wait for the backup ambulance while your partner performs CPR

B. begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible

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: A. ventilate the patient for 5 minutes and then stop if there is no response B. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased 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

B. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased

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: A. assault B. negligence C. battery D. abandonment

B. negligence

Which of the following situations requires you to notify the appropriate authorities? A. Drug overdose B. Cardiac arrest C. Attempted suicide D. Accidental knife wound

C. Attempted suicide

Which of the following MOST accurately defines negligence? A. Transferring patient care to a provider with a lower level of training B. Transport of a mentally incompetent patient against their will C. Deviation from the standard care that may result in further injury D. Providing care that is consistent with care provided by other EMTs

C. Deviation from the standard of care that may result in further injury

When is forcible restraint permitted? A. Anytime that the EMT feels threatened B. Only if consent to restrain is given by a family member. C. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others D. Only if law enforcement personnel have witnessed threatening behavior

C. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others

While transporting a stable patient with chest pain to the hospital, you come across a major motor vehicle crash involving several critically injured patients. You should: A. stop and triage the patients while your partner remains in the ambulance B. remain at the scene until law enforcement and another ambulance arrive C. continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash D. ask a bystander to remain with your patient as you treat the crash victims

C. continure transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash

Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include: A. placing the patient in a private area until the police arrive B. making brief notes at the scene and then completing them later C. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons D. quickly moving any weapons out of the patient's sight

C. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons

You are treating a man who was assaulted and has a closed head injury. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should: A. ask a police officer to transport the patient to the hospital B. allow the patient to refuse treatment because the injury was not his fault. C. proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary D. have the police arrest the patient so that you can legally begin treatment

C. proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary

Which of the following patients has decision-making capacity and can legally refuse emergency medical treatment? A. A diabetic woman who has slurred speech and is not aware of the date B. A man who is staggering and states that he had three beers C. A confused young male who says he is the president D. A conscious and alert young woman with severe abdominal pain

D. A conscious and alert woman with severe abdominal pain

You suspect that a pregnant 16-year-old girl has a broken leg after she was hit by a car. You explain that you plan to splint her leg and she agrees to treatment. Which type of consent is her agreement considered? A. Informed B. Implied C. Minor's D. Expressed

D. Expressed

Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct? 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

To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have __________. 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

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: A. honor the patient's wishes and withhold treatment B. decide on further action once the DNR order is produced C. transport the patient without providing any treatment D. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed.

D. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed.

You are called to attend 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 but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should: 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

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: A. document the error and report it to your supervisor B. exclude this intervention from the PCR because it did not harm the patient C. notify law enforcement so they can file an incident report D. contact medical control and notify them of the error

D. contact medical control and notify them of the error

Putrefaction is defined as: A. profound cyanosis to the trunk and face B. blood settling to the lowest point of the body C. separation of the torso from the rest of the body D. decomposition of the body's tissues

D. decomposition of the body's tissues

When performing their duties, the EMT is generally expected to: A. function above their scope of practice B. consistently exceed the standard of care C. contact medical control on every EMS call D. exercise reasonable care and act prudently

D. exercise reasonable care and act prudently

As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on: A. the priorities of the medical director B. the wishes of the general public C. a consensus among paramedic supervisors. D. locally accepted protocols

D. locally accepted protocols

The EMT's scope of practice within their local response area is defined by the: A. local health district B. EMS supervisor C. state EMS office D. medical director

D. medical director

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: A. treat the patient where he is so that you do not destroy any evidence. B. drag the patient into a larger area so that you can begin treatment C. obtain permission from law enforcement before moving anything D. quickly move the coffee table so you can access and treat the patient

D. quickly move the coffee table so you can access and treat the patient

Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence? A. Breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation. B. Abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation C. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages and causation D. Duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation

Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation

As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of: A. the general public B. a paramedic supervisor C. the medical director D. another EMT

another EMT

In many states, a minor may be treated as an adult for the purpose of consenting to or refusing medical treatment if the minor: A. is mentally competent and able to refuse B. is self-supporting and lives by themselves C. has a poor relationship with their parents D. possesses a valid driver's license.

is self-supporting and lives by themselves