EMS1055 Midterm Study Guide with
Accurate Solutions
Know the medical legal responsibilities of an EMR, such as Duty to Act and Standard of
Care. - ANSWER-If you are employed by an agency as an EMR and you are dispatched
to the scene of an accident or illness, you have a duty to act.
you must proceed promptly to the scene and render emergency medical care within the
limits of your training and available equipment.
Failure to respond or render care leaves you and your agency vulnerable to legal action.
The standard of care is the manner in which you must act or behave
You must meet two criteria:
-You must treat the patient to the best of your ability
-You must provide care that a reasonable, prudent person with similar training would
provide under similar circumstances.
standard of care - ANSWER-Written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by
reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that
patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm.
scope of practice - ANSWER-a set of regulations and ethical considerations that define
the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT's or EMS job
Duty to Act - ANSWER-Your legal responsibility to do something in the case of an
emergency
Abandonment - ANSWER-Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the
patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
Know the levels of patient consent - ANSWER-expressed
implied
consent for minors
consent for mentally ill
patients refusal of care
Advanced directives
expressed consent - ANSWER-The patient actually lets you know—verbally or
nonverbally—that he or she is willing to accept treatment
, The patient must be of legal age and able to make a rational decision.
implied consent - ANSWER-The patient does not specifically refuse emergency care.
Do not hesitate to treat an unconscious patient.
Consent for minors - ANSWER-Under the law, minors are not considered capable of
speaking for themselves.
Emergency treatment must wait until a patient or legal guardian consents to the
treatment.
If permission cannot be quickly obtained, do not hesitate to give appropriate medical
care.
Consent of the Mentally Ill - ANSWER-If the person appears to be a threat to self or
others, place this person under medical care.
Know your state's legal mechanisms for handling these patients.
Do not hesitate to involve law enforcement agencies.
living will - ANSWER-A document that indicates what medical intervention an individual
wants if he or she becomes incapable of expressing those wishes.
DNR (do not resuscitate) - ANSWER-an order that tells medical professionals not to
perform CPR
refusal of care - ANSWER-An unwillingness to receive first aid or medical
treatment expressed by a victim (or the victim's parent
or guardian) who must give consent.
Know the pulse points and what blood pressure is required for them to be palpated -
ANSWER-carotid 60mm Hg
femoral 70mm Hg
radial 80mm Hg
pedal 90-100mm Hg
systolic pressures
Remember head to toes in anatomic position
carotid pulse - ANSWER-the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of
the neck. Blood pressure is at least 60 systolic
femoral pulse - ANSWER-Pulse felt on either side of the groin; Femoral artery. blood
pressure is at least 70 systolic.
brachial pulse - ANSWER-the pulse felt in the upper arm. (often used for infants.)
radial pulse - ANSWER-the pulse felt at the wrist. blood pressure is at least 80 systolic.
Accurate Solutions
Know the medical legal responsibilities of an EMR, such as Duty to Act and Standard of
Care. - ANSWER-If you are employed by an agency as an EMR and you are dispatched
to the scene of an accident or illness, you have a duty to act.
you must proceed promptly to the scene and render emergency medical care within the
limits of your training and available equipment.
Failure to respond or render care leaves you and your agency vulnerable to legal action.
The standard of care is the manner in which you must act or behave
You must meet two criteria:
-You must treat the patient to the best of your ability
-You must provide care that a reasonable, prudent person with similar training would
provide under similar circumstances.
standard of care - ANSWER-Written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by
reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that
patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm.
scope of practice - ANSWER-a set of regulations and ethical considerations that define
the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT's or EMS job
Duty to Act - ANSWER-Your legal responsibility to do something in the case of an
emergency
Abandonment - ANSWER-Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the
patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
Know the levels of patient consent - ANSWER-expressed
implied
consent for minors
consent for mentally ill
patients refusal of care
Advanced directives
expressed consent - ANSWER-The patient actually lets you know—verbally or
nonverbally—that he or she is willing to accept treatment
, The patient must be of legal age and able to make a rational decision.
implied consent - ANSWER-The patient does not specifically refuse emergency care.
Do not hesitate to treat an unconscious patient.
Consent for minors - ANSWER-Under the law, minors are not considered capable of
speaking for themselves.
Emergency treatment must wait until a patient or legal guardian consents to the
treatment.
If permission cannot be quickly obtained, do not hesitate to give appropriate medical
care.
Consent of the Mentally Ill - ANSWER-If the person appears to be a threat to self or
others, place this person under medical care.
Know your state's legal mechanisms for handling these patients.
Do not hesitate to involve law enforcement agencies.
living will - ANSWER-A document that indicates what medical intervention an individual
wants if he or she becomes incapable of expressing those wishes.
DNR (do not resuscitate) - ANSWER-an order that tells medical professionals not to
perform CPR
refusal of care - ANSWER-An unwillingness to receive first aid or medical
treatment expressed by a victim (or the victim's parent
or guardian) who must give consent.
Know the pulse points and what blood pressure is required for them to be palpated -
ANSWER-carotid 60mm Hg
femoral 70mm Hg
radial 80mm Hg
pedal 90-100mm Hg
systolic pressures
Remember head to toes in anatomic position
carotid pulse - ANSWER-the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of
the neck. Blood pressure is at least 60 systolic
femoral pulse - ANSWER-Pulse felt on either side of the groin; Femoral artery. blood
pressure is at least 70 systolic.
brachial pulse - ANSWER-the pulse felt in the upper arm. (often used for infants.)
radial pulse - ANSWER-the pulse felt at the wrist. blood pressure is at least 80 systolic.
