Emt Chapter 3 Medical, Legal, And Ethical Issues

Front 1

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.

Back 1

abandonment

Front 2

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.

Back 2

advance directive

Front 3

The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct.

Back 3

applied ethics

Front 4

Unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm.

Back 4

assault

Front 5

Touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent.

Back 5

battery

Front 6

The study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care.

Back 6

bioethics

Front 7

Disclosure of information without proper authorization.

Back 7

breach of confidentiality

Front 8

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.

Back 8

certification

Front 9

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.

Back 9

compensatory damages

Front 10

Able to make rational decisions about personal well-being.

Back 10

competent

Front 11

Permission to render care.

Back 11

consent

Front 12

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.

Back 12

contributary negligence

Front 13

Ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care.

Back 13

decision-making capacity

Front 14

The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person's reputation or standing in the community.

Back 14

defamation

Front 15

Blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin.

Back 15

dependent lividity

Front 16

Oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath.

Back 16

depositions

Front 17

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

Back 17

discovery

Front 18

Written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel to not attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest.

Back 18

do not resuscitate (DNR) orders

Front 19

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

Back 19

durable power of attorney for health care

Front 20

A medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care.

Back 20

duty to act

Front 21

A person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult.

Back 21

emancipated minors

Front 22

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.

Back 22

emergency

Front 23

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.

Back 23

emergency doctrine

Front 24

Immediate care or treatment.

Back 24

emergency medical care

Front 25

The philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior.

Back 25

ethics

Front 26

A type of consent in which a patient gives express authorization for provision of care or transport.

Back 26

expressed consent

Front 27

The confinement of a person without legal authority or the person's consent.

Back 27

false imprisonment

Front 28

The act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action.

Back 28

forcible restraint

Front 29

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.

Back 29

Good Samaritan laws

Front 30

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.

Back 30

governmental immunity

Front 31

Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care.

Back 31

gross negligence

Front 32

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.

Back 32

health care directive

Front 33

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.

Back 33

health care proxies

Front 34

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.

Back 34

implied consent

Front 35

Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.

Back 35

in loco parentis

Front 36

Permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained.

Back 36

informed consent

Front 37

Written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one other.

Back 37

interrogatories

Front 38

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.

Back 38

kidnapping

Front 39

False and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing.

Back 39

libel

Front 40

The process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows individuals to perform a regulated act.

Back 40

licensure

Front 41

medicolegal

Back 41

A term relating to medical jurisprudence (law) or forensic medicine.

Front 42

A code of conduct that can be defined by society, religion, or a person, affecting character, conduct, and conscience.

Back 42

morality

Front 43

Failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide.

Back 43

negligence

Front 44

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.

Back 44

negligence per se

Front 45

The right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care.

Back 45

patient autonomy

Front 46

Basing current action on lessons, rules, or guidelines derived from previous similar experiences.

Back 46

precedence

Front 47

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.

Back 47

protected health information (PHI)

Front 48

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.

Back 48

proximate causation

Front 49

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.

Back 49

punitive damages

Front 50

Decomposition of body tissues.

Back 50

putrefaction

Front 51

When the EMT or an EMS service is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred.

Back 51

res ipsa loquitor

Front 52

Stiffening of the body; a definitive sign of death.

Back 52

rigor mortis

Front 53

Most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care you are able to provide for the patient.

Back 53

scope of practice

Front 54

False and damaging information about a person that is communicated by the spoken word.

Back 54

slander

Front 55

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.

Back 55

standard of care

Front 56

The time within which a case must be commenced.

Back 56

statute of limitations

Front 57

A wrongful act that gives rise to a civil suit.

Back 57

tort

Front 58

Infant Respiration

Back 58

Intially 40-60
drops to 30-40
after a few minutes; slows to 20-30 by 1 year

Front 59

Toddler (1-3) Respieration

Back 59

20-30

Front 60

Preschooler (3-5)

Back 60

20-30

Front 61

Schooler-agers (6-10)

Back 61

15-30

Front 62

Adolescent (11-14)

Back 62

12-20

Front 63

Young or Middle aged adult (15-64) Respirtations

Back 63

12-20

Front 64

Older adult (65) Respirations

Back 64

Depends on the patient's health