EMT Legal and Ethical Issues Flashcards
6 cards from real EMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 EMT Legal and Ethical Issues flashcards as text
A patient care report (PCR) is primarily a:
Answer: Legal document and medical record
The PCR is a legal medical document that records the patient's condition, care provided, and response — it can be used in court and for continuity of care.
The principle of beneficence in EMS ethics means:
Answer: Acting in the patient's best interest
Beneficence is the ethical obligation to act in ways that promote the patient's well-being and best interest.
Which ethical principle refers to the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions?
Answer: Autonomy
Autonomy is the patient's right to self-determination — to accept or refuse care based on their own values and understanding.
An EMT who documents care that was NOT actually performed is committing:
Answer: Fraud
Documenting false information — such as interventions that were never performed — constitutes fraud and can result in criminal charges.
When transporting a patient against their will due to a psychiatric emergency, EMTs typically act under:
Answer: Involuntary consent / emergency protective custody laws
Most states have mental health laws allowing EMS to transport a person who is a danger to themselves or others under emergency protective custody without their consent.
The standard of care for an EMT is defined as:
Answer: What a reasonable EMT with similar training would do in the same situation
The legal standard of care is what a reasonably prudent EMT with equivalent training would do under similar circumstances — it is the benchmark for negligence cases.