You have been asked to review a legal case in which a patient intentionally overdosed on heroin and then died after EMS arrived because they did not have a bag-valve mask to ventilate the nonbreathing patient. The evidence indicates that the EMT and paramedics both signed their morning equipment check indicating that they had inspected the ambulance and had all the necessary equipment to do their job. In this case, you would realize:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The EMT and paramedic were responsible for ensuring that all necessary equipment was available on the ambulance to provide proper care for the patient. By signing the equipment check indicating that they had all necessary equipment, they were negligent in not having a bag-valve mask available. The fact that the patient intentionally overdosed does not remove the responsibility of the EMT and paramedic to provide proper care. The Good Samaritan Act does not necessarily protect against negligence, and contributory negligence may not be applicable in this case as it implies that the patient had some fault in their own injury.

You Have Been Asked to Review a Legal Case in Which