EMT-B Quiz: Chapter 3: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues

You response 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 the patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should: A. begins treatment and contact medical control as needed. B. transport the patient without providing any treatment. C. decide on further action once the DNR order is produced. D. honor the patient's wishes and withhold all treatment.

A. Begin treatment and contact medical control as needed. Chapter 3 Advance Directives Page 92

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

A. Decomposition of the body's tissues. Chapter 3 Physical Signs of Death Page 93

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

A. Driver's license. Chapter 3 Special Situations Page 94

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

A. Locally Accepted Protocols. Chapter 3 Records and Reports Page 101

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

A. Not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. Chapter 3 Special Mandatory Reporting Requirements Page 102

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 police officer request a copy to place on file. C. A media representative inquires about the patient. D. The family requests a copy for insurance purposes.

A. The patient is competent and signs a release form. Chapter 3 Confidentiality Page 90

To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have (blank). A. public forums with their medical director. B. a privacy officer to answer questions. C. an anonymous reporting system. D. online access to patient records.

B. A privacy officer to answer questions. Chapter 3 Confidentiality Page 90

Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct? A. Patient care cannot be discredited based on poor documentation. B. It is difficult to prove actions were preformed if they are not included on the report. C. Incomplete reports are common and accepted in EMS. D. EMT's are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented.

B. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report. Chapter 3 Records and Reports Page 101

The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the: A. EMS supervisor. B. Medical Director. C. Local health district. D. State EMS office.

B. Medical Director Chapter 3 Scope of Practice Page 94

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

B. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others. Chapter 3 Consent Page 88

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

C. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change. Chapter 3 Duty to Act Pages 97-98

Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct? 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. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. D. Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member.

C. A patient can consent to transport but can legally reuse to be treated. Chapter 3 Consent Page 85

During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCR's) 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. violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved. B. acted appropriately but must have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others. C. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand. D. adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally.

C. Are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI form the PCR beforehand. Chapter 3 Confidentiality Page 90

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

C. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation. Chapter 3 Negligence Page 98

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

C. exercise reasonable care and act prudently. Chapter 3 Standards of Care Page 97

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. Implied B. Formal C. Informed D. Expressed

D. Expressed Chapter 3 Consent Page 86

You and hour partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severly 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 pulse. You should: A. request the fire department to extricate the patient so you can begin CPR. B. stop any active bleeding and advise dispatch to send a paramedic crew. C. ventilate the patient for 5 minutes and then stop if there is no response. D. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.

D. Have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. Chapter 3 Physical Signs of Death Pages 92-93

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

D. Protecting patient privacy. Chapter 3 Confidentiality Page 90

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? A. Without treatment until the parents arrive and give you consent for treatment. B. Treat the child at the scene and wait for the parents to arrive and give consent. C. Begin transport at once and have the parents meet you en route to the hospital. D. Transport the child immediately and and have the parents meet you at the hospital.

D. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. Chapter 3 Consent Page 87

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: A transport with minimal care. B. confirm the patient's identity and honor the DNR order. C. initiate resuscitation in the absence of paperwork. 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 Chapter 3 Special SItuations Page 94-95