Chapter 3. Objectives. Objectives 01/07/2013. Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues

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1 Chapter 3 Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues Prehospital Emergency Care, Ninth Edition Joseph J. Mistovich Keith J. Karren Copyright 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Objectives 1. Define key terms introduced in this chapter. 2. Differentiate between the concepts of scope of practice and standard of care (slides 14-16) 3. Given a scenario, determine whether you would have a duty to act (slides 17-18). 4. Explain your duties with respect to patients, your partner, yourself, and your equipment (slide 18). 5. Describe the intent of Good Samaritan laws (slides 19-20). Objectives 6. Explain each of the following legal protections for EMTs (slides 21-22): a. Sovereign immunity b. Statutes of limitations c. Contributory negligence of the patient 7. Explain the EMT s legal obligations with respect to medical direction (slides 23-24). 8. Differentiate between the concepts of ethics and morals (slide 25). 9. Describe the ethical responsibilities of EMTs (slides 25-26). 1

2 Objectives 10. Given a scenario presenting an ethical dilemma, discuss the consequences of various decisions and actions (slides 25-26). 11. Explain each of the following types of consent (slides 27-29). a. Informed consent b. Expressed consent c. Implied consent d. Consent to treat minors e. Involuntary consent Objectives 12. Compare and contrast the typical provisions and prehospital applications of each of the following types of advance directives (slides 30-32): a. Do not resuscitate order b. Living will c. Durable power of attorney d. Physican orders for life-sustaining treatment 13. Given a scenario in which a patient has an advance directive, determine the appropriate action to be taken (slides 30-32). 14. Given a scenario in which a patient refuses care, discuss the actions you should take (slides 33-36). 15. Differentiate between criminal and civil liability (slide 39). Objectives 16. Explain the concept of negligence (slides 37-48). 17. Give examples of ways you can avoid each of the following tort claims (slides 49-58): a. Abandonment b. Assault c. Battery d. False imprisonment/kidnapping e. Defamation 18. Explain patients rights and your legal and ethical responsibilities concerning confidentiality and privacy (slides 59-62). 19. Describe COBRA and EMTALA provisions as they apply to EMS (slides 63-64). 2

3 Objectives 20. Give examples of ways you can protect yourself legally in transport and transfer situations (slides 65-66). 21. Describe special considerations for patients who are potential organ donors (slides 67-68). 22. Identify presumptive signs of death (slides 71-73). 23. Identify situations in which law enforcement or the medical examiner s/coroner s office should be contacted. Objectives 24. Discuss special considerations in responding to potential crime scenes (slides 74-75). 25. Describe situations in which the EMT may be mandated to make a report, such as suspected abuse, crimes, and infectious diseases (slides 76-77). Topics The Scope of Practice Issues of Patient Consent and Refusal Other Legal Aspects of Emergency Care 3

4 CASE STUDY Dispatch EMS Unit 105 Proceed to 733 East Third Street for an elderly male with abdominal pain. Time out 1430 Upon Arrival You find an elderly female at the door The house is so cluttered you can barely pass through Male lying on bed moaning; undergarments stained Room is very cold 4

5 How would you proceed? The Scope of Practice Back to Topics Legal Duties 5

6 ( Craig Jackson/In the Dark Photography) Scope of practice Standard of care Legal Duties Duty to Act Duty to act Duty to patient Duty to self Duty to your partner Duty for your equipment ( Sun Herald/Corbis) 6

7 Legal Duties Good Samaritan Laws Enacted in 1959 in California For unpaid services Does not prevent you from being sued ( Mark C. Ide) Legal Duties Other Legal Protections 7

8 Sovereign immunity Statute of limitations Contributory negligence Legal Duties Medical Direction Follow standing orders as approved by medical direction Establish communication with medical direction as needed 8

9 Ethical Responsibilities Ethics Morals Code of ethics Issues of Patient Consent and Refusal Back to Topics 9

10 Types of Consent Informed consent Expressed consent Implied consent Consent to treat a minor Involuntary consent Advance Directives 10

11 Do not resuscitate order (DNR) Living will Durable power of attorney Physician order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) Know your state s laws and protocols DNR must be present Make sure it is valid If there are any questions, start resuscitation Refusing Treatment Competency 11

12 Patient must be lucid and capable of making an informed decision You must make patient fully aware of the consequences Refusing Treatment Protecting Yourself In Refusal Situations Try again to persuade the patient Make sure the patient is competent Any questions, contact medical direction Encourage the patient to seek help later Document, document, document 12

13 Other Legal Aspects of Emergency Care Back to Topics Negligence Criminal Civil Tort Negligence 13

14 Four Elements to Prove The EMT had a duty to act The EMT breached that duty to act The patient suffered injury or harm The injuries were the result of the breach of the duty Negligence Duty to Act Obligation to respond to the scene and provide emergency care to patient 14

15 Negligence Breach of Duty to Act Negligence Simple negligence Gross negligence Negligence Damages 15

16 Damages refers to injuries that are real, demonstrable, and recognizable by the law. ( David Handschuh) Negligence Proximate Cause Injuries a direct result of EMT negligence 16

17 Intentional Tort Action knowingly committed by an individual that is considered to be civilly wrong according to the law Intentional Tort Abandonment 17

18 Stopping treatment without transferring care to another professional of equal or higher training Intentional Tort Assault and Battery Assault Battery 18

19 Intentional Tort False Imprisonment or Kidnapping Transporting a competent patient without his consent Intentional Tort Defamation 19

20 Defamation Slander Libel Confidentiality Know your jurisdiction's laws Release information only in specific cases 20

21 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Federal law that protects the privacy of patient health care information COBRA and EMTALA 21

22 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) Protecting Yourself in Transport and Transfer Situations ( Maria A.H. Lyle) Get a full report about the patient s condition Ensure you can provide appropriate level of care Obtain signed informed consent form Obtain written certification of transfer from physician Know where you are going; take the quickest possible route 22

23 Special Situations Donors and Organ Harvesting Identify patient as potential donor Relay information to hospital Provide emergency care Special Situations Medical Identification Insignia 23

24 Look for tags identifying medical conditions Look on wrist, around neck, or on a card Special Situations Recognizing Death in the Field No pulse, breathing, or breath sounds Complete unresponsiveness No pupil response Absence of a blood pressure No reflexes Presumptive Signs of Death 24

25 Obvious Signs Decapitation Rigor mortis Decomposition Dependent lividity Special Situations Crime Scenes Observe and document the unusual Do not cut through holes from bullet or stab wounds ( Craig Jackson/In the Dark Photography) Scene safety Take one way in and out Touch only what you have to Tell police if you move or touch anything 25

26 Special Situations Special Reporting Situations Abuse Crime Drug-related injuries ( Robert A. Felter, M.D.) CASE STUDY Follow-Up 26

27 CASE STUDY Assessment S: conscious but disoriented; complains of abdominal pain; no signs of acute distress AMPLE: unable to obtain from patient or wife CASE STUDY Assessment Wife appears not to understand situation No change in condition during transport CASE STUDY An Ethical Obligation After transfer to hospital personnel, you contact social services; believe it is elderly neglect Two weeks later you are told patient was diagnosed with a gastric ulcer and organic brain syndrome 27

28 CASE STUDY An Ethical Obligation Mrs. Schuman, wife, diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease Both are now residents of extended-care nursing home Critical Thinking Scenario 34-year-old female patient complaining of abdominal pain Upon arrival, you find the patient lying in bed She is alert and holding her abdomen She states that she is having bad belly pain Pain began about an hour ago Critical Thinking Scenario You perform an assessment, place the patient on oxygen, and prepare for transport The patient suddenly states, I don t want to go to the hospital 28

29 Critical Thinking Questions 1. How would you initially gain consent from this patient? 2. How would you manage the patient s refusal to be transported? 3. What legal issues may you face if you continue with treatment and transport? Reinforce and Review Please visit and follow the mybradykit links to access content for the text. 29