Deck 15: Legal Problems of Emergency Care

Question 1

If a dental team calls upon emergency medical services (EMS) while treating a patient experiencing a medical emergency, that call to the EMS could be used as proof of abandonment in a lawsuit.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Laws associated with emergency care vary from state to state.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

How can the dental auxiliary help in the event of a lawsuit?

A) If an emergency occurs, do not interfere; let the dentist maintain full care of the patient.
B) Administer medications prescribed only by the dentist and no other health care professional.
C) Write down everything that transpired prior to, during, and after the emergency.
D) Explain in detail the potential risks associated with any dental procedure to the patient.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Where should a list of emergency numbers be located in the dental office?

A) Near the exit door
B) Near the phone
C) In the waiting area
D) In the exam room

Question 5

If a dental patient suffers a serious injury at the dental office, unrelated to a dental treatment, the staff should allow the patient to decide when to leave the office or whether to seek treatment.

Question 6

How can a dental team best protect themselves from a lawsuit?

A) Have the patient sign a non-liability agreement.
B) Only accept patients who are generally in good health.
C) Comply with HIPPA's safety regulations.
D) Maintain updated medical histories.

Question 7

In terms of legal liability, it is optional for a dental team to have an emergency preparedness kit on hand.

Question 8

What is a legal obligation of the dental auxiliary?

A) To be trained in CPR
B) To administer medication in an emergency situation
C) To always defer to the dentist before starting any type of emergency medical intervention
D) To avoid direct contact with a patient if a dentist is not present

Question 9

In an emergency, the dental team should ____.

A) provide care only if they are confident that the condition is life threatening
B) do everything in their power to provide care for the patient
C) make sure that only the dentist has direct contact with the patient
D) not cause further harm by initiating treatment that is not related to dentistry

Question 10

Good Samaritan Laws provide complete protection against lawsuits for individuals who provide medical assistance during an emergency.

Question 11

____ Laws were developed to encourage people to help others in emergency situations.

A) Assistive Intervention
B) Compassionate Action
C) Good Samaritan
D) Helping Hand

Question 12

What is true of the dental auxiliary's liability?

A) The dental auxiliary can be included in a lawsuit against the dentist.
B) There are laws that protect the dental auxiliary from any type of lawsuit.
C) The dental auxiliary are independent entities; thus, the dentist is not legally responsible for their actions.
D) A patient can sue the dentist only, not the auxiliary; but the dentist can subsequently sue the auxiliary.

Question 13

What is true of the legal system and healthcare professionals?

A) Lawsuits against healthcare professionals are growing in number.
B) Lawsuits against healthcare professionals are decreasing in number.
C) Healthcare laws are stagnating and no longer relevant.
D) There are no laws that protect the rights of healthcare professionals.

Question 14

If the dental team did not begin treatment on a patient in distress but merely summoned transportation to a medical facility, the patient may have grounds for legal action based on ____.

A) incompetence
B) fulfillment
C) entitlement
D) abandonment

Question 15

"____" means that once the dental team begins treatment, it must follow through with all required treatment for the patient.

A) Duty of preparedness
B) Duty to treat
C) Duty of due diligence
D) Duty of full measure