While off duty, an EMT comes on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. A young man has been seriously injured and is bleeding. The EMT is alone with his baby daughter in the car and cannot leave her to provide help. Therefore, he alerts 911 of the emergency and drives away. Later in the week, he finds out that the patient died. Which one of the following is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Off duty EMTs have no legal duty to act in an emergency situation unless they have established a patient-provider relationship or have taken affirmative steps to initiate care. In this case, the EMT was alone with his infant daughter and could not leave her alone to provide help. Therefore, he did not establish a patient-provider relationship and can't be held liable for the patient's death since he did not have a legal duty to act.

While Off Duty, an EMT Comes on the Scene of a Motor