Question 1

A document that is signed by a physician and that outlines the life-sustaining measures that may or may not be taken when a patient's heart and respiratory functions have ceased is a:

Accepted Answer

A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order is specifically designed to inform medical personnel not to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or other life-sustaining measures if a patient's heart and respiratory functions cease.

Question 2

There are ethical and societal limits to the interactions between paramedics or other health care personnel and the patients they serve. These are called:

Accepted Answer

Professional boundaries refer to the guidelines and limits in place that dictate appropriate behavior and interactions between healthcare providers and patients. It is important for healthcare providers to maintain professional boundaries to ensure ethical and safe patient care. The other options - employment laws, scope of practice, and standard of care - refer to different aspects of healthcare regulation and practice.

Question 3

The principle of law that prohibits the release of medical or other personal information about a patient without the patient's permission is known as:

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality is the principle that ensures personal information, such as medical records, is not disclosed without the patient's consent.

Question 4

Which of the following laws is designed to allow the paramedic who has been potentially exposed to an infectious disease access to the medical records of the patient to whom the paramedic was exposed?

Accepted Answer

The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act includes provisions that allow emergency response personnel to access information about exposures to infectious diseases in certain circumstances, which is designed to protect the health and safety of those workers.

Question 5

The category of law that deals with issues involving conflicts between two or more parties, such as personal injury cases, contract disputes, and matrimonial issues, is ________ law.

Accepted Answer

Civil law deals with disputes between two or more parties, such as personal injury cases, contract disputes, and matrimonial issues. Criminal law deals with crimes and their punishment, common law refers to traditional laws developed through court decisions, and magistrate courts handle minor criminal and civil cases.

Question 6

A paramedic who transports patients without their consent or other legal authority would most likely be subject to charges of:

Accepted Answer

False imprisonment occurs when someone is unlawfully restrained or confined against their will. Transporting a patient without their consent or legal authority would constitute false imprisonment.

Question 7

When faced with unruly or violent patients who pose threats to themselves, paramedics, or others, the paramedic may control the patients by using:

Accepted Answer

The use of physical force should be the last resort and should only be used if necessary to protect the patient, paramedics, or others from harm. The use of pepper spray, handcuffs, or a Taser may further escalate the situation and potentially cause harm to the patient or others. Paramedics should prioritize verbal communication and de-escalation techniques to gain the patient's cooperation and avoid the use of force if possible.

Question 8

Your patient is a 16-year-old male with a reported history of ingesting 8 to 10 beers over the preceding 2 hours. He fell while jumping on a trampoline, striking his head on the metal framing of the trampoline. There was no reported loss of consciousness, but the patient has a laceration to the occipital area of the head. The patient is alert and oriented to person, time, and place but fails to show appropriate concern for his injury and has slurred speech. The parents are unavailable. Which of the following is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

In this situation, the patient is a minor and unable to make medical decisions for themselves. With the parents unavailable, the best course of action is to treat the patient under the doctrine of implied consent of the parents, which assumes that the parents would want their child to receive medical treatment in this circumstance. This allows for the patient to receive necessary medical care without delay.

Question 9

Which of the following occurrences is LEAST likely to require mandatory legal reporting by the paramedic?

Accepted Answer

Public intoxication is usually not a mandatory legal reporting requirement for paramedics, unless the individual presents a danger to themselves or others. However, abuse of the elderly, child endangerment, and spousal battery are all considered forms of abuse and require mandatory legal reporting by paramedics.

Question 10

A patient has been treated by paramedics for a sprained wrist. En route to the hospital, she suffers a stroke. What is the likely outcome of a negligence lawsuit brought by the patient?

Accepted Answer

In order to successfully prove negligence, the plaintiff must establish four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. While the paramedics had a duty to treat the sprained wrist, it is unlikely that this duty extended to preventing a stroke, as it was not a foreseeable complication of the initial injury. Therefore, the plaintiff would likely fail to prove causation, and the lawsuit would not succeed.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a valid reason for releasing confidential patient information?

Accepted Answer

A promise to keep a source confidential does not outweigh the legal and ethical obligation to protect patients' confidential information. The other options (A, C, and D) all involve valid reasons for releasing patient information.

Question 12

________ often occurs in patients who have used CNS depressants and results from the patient being in a physical position that interferes with his airway or with ventilation.

Accepted Answer

Restraint asphyxia, also known as positional asphyxia, is a condition that can occur when a person is held in a position that interferes with their ability to breathe. It is commonly seen in patients who have used CNS depressants such as alcohol or opioids, and can be caused by physical restraint or being in a prone position. If untreated, it can lead to respiratory failure and death.

Question 13

The granting of permission by a governmental body for a qualified individual to engage in a particular profession or occupation is known as:

Accepted Answer

Licensure is the granting of permission by a governmental body for a qualified individual to engage in a particular profession or occupation. Registration is the process of recording or enrolling in an official list, and reciprocity refers to the recognition of a license or certification issued in one state or country by another state or country. Certification is a voluntary process that demonstrates a level of knowledge or proficiency in a particular area or skill. Therefore, the correct answer is A) licensure.

Question 14

When a court orders that a prisoner receive treatment the prisoner does not want, the treatment is based on ________ consent.

Accepted Answer

The word "involuntary" means an action that is done without choice or against one's will. In this case, the prisoner does not want the treatment, but the court has ordered it, hence it is an involuntary treatment.

Question 15

Injuring a person's name or character through malicious spoken statements is called:

Accepted Answer

Injuring a person's name or character through malicious spoken statements is called slander.

Question 16

When a paramedic treats an unconscious patient, the provision of treatment is based on ________ consent.

Accepted Answer

Implied consent is assumed when a patient is unconscious or unable to give consent, and urgent medical treatment is required to prevent further harm. The paramedic may assume that the patient would consent to treatment in such a situation. Expressed consent requires the patient to give clear verbal or written consent before treatment. Res ipsa loquitur and primum non nocere are legal principles, but not applicable to the provision of consent in this context.

Question 17

EMT-P Smith came to work feeling very tired and decided to nap before doing his equipment and vehicle checklist. After about 45 minutes the tones went off, and EMT-P Smith and his EMT-B partner, Jones, were dispatched for a seizure. The patient was still actively seizing when they arrived at the scene. Smith discovered that the previous shift had used all the Valium and failed to replace it. As a result, Smith could administer no medication to stop the seizure. Ultimately, the patient stopped seizing and suffered no apparent adverse consequences. Which of the following elements to establish negligence is missing in this case?

Accepted Answer

The missing element is actual damages. While there was a breach of duty (failure to replace the Valium), a duty to act (responding to the call), and potentially lack of consent (not applicable in this case), there were no actual damages suffered by the patient.

Question 18

A civil wrong committed by one individual against another is a:

Accepted Answer

A tort is a civil wrong committed by one individual against another. Breach of duty refers to a specific type of action or inaction that neglects a duty of care owed to someone else. Misdemeanor and felony are criminal offenses, not civil wrongs.

Question 19

Malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance are three types of:

Accepted Answer

Malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance are all forms of breach of duty. Malfeasance refers to intentional wrongdoing, misfeasance refers to carrying out a legal duty in a wrongful or injurious manner, and nonfeasance refers to failing to perform a legal duty.

Question 20

You are called to a scene for a report of "an unconscious man." When you arrive at the scene, the patient is conscious and alert, sitting on the front stairs with neighbors around him. He says he doesn't know what happened but is "Okay now, just a little woozy." You ask if you can assess him, but he refuses. You make several attempts to get him to change his mind, pointing out possible causes of the problem and possible consequences of refusing. He still says no, and you ask the neighbors if they can help the patient change his mind. Finally, you get the patient to sign a release from liability form and have it witnessed by one of the neighbors. As you leave, you document the call and your efforts to convince the patient to accept assessment/care. What else should you have done with this patient before leaving the scene?

Accepted Answer

As a healthcare professional, it is important to exhaust all options to ensure the patient receives the proper care. Consulting with medical direction online can provide additional guidance and instruction on how to handle the situation. Advising the patient that they can call EMS again if the problem recurs ensures that they know when and how to get help if needed. Urging the patient's neighbors to stay with him can provide additional support and supervision.

Quiz 7: Medicallegal Aspects of Out-Of-Hospital Care