CPC Ethical and Legal Principles 2

Question 1

A community paramedic visits a patient who has a valid DNR order but whose family members are demanding resuscitation be attempted. What is the legally and ethically correct action?

Accepted Answer

Honor the DNR order and explain its legal validity to the family

Answer

Attempt resuscitation to satisfy the family's wishes

Answer

Contact medical direction to override the DNR

Answer

Document the family's request and defer the decision to the hospital

Question 2

Which legal doctrine holds that a community paramedic may be held liable for the negligent acts of unlicensed personnel they supervise?

Accepted Answer

Respondeat superior

Answer

Res ipsa loquitur

Answer

Proximate cause

Answer

Comparative negligence

Question 3

A community paramedic discovers during a home visit that a patient's medication was stolen by a family member. What is the primary ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Ensure patient safety and report suspected elder or vulnerable adult abuse per mandatory reporting laws

Answer

Confront the family member directly and recover the medications

Answer

Document the finding only and make no report

Answer

Ignore the situation as it is a family matter

Question 4

The ethical principle of justice in community paramedicine most directly relates to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Equitable distribution of healthcare resources and services across populations

Answer

Ensuring patient confidentiality at all times

Answer

Obtaining valid informed consent before treatment

Answer

Acting in the patient's best interest regardless of their wishes

Question 5

A patient with schizophrenia refuses a recommended intervention. Under what condition may a community paramedic override this refusal?

Accepted Answer

When the patient is determined to lack decision-making capacity at that time

Answer

Whenever the patient has a psychiatric diagnosis

Answer

When family members provide consent on the patient's behalf

Answer

When the paramedic believes the refusal is medically unwise

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the legal concept of 'duty to act' for a community paramedic?

Accepted Answer

A legal obligation to provide care once a provider-patient relationship is established

Answer

An obligation to act whenever any person in public appears ill

Answer

The right to intervene in any emergency regardless of jurisdiction

Answer

A moral but not legally enforceable obligation to render aid

Question 7

A community paramedic receives a gift of significant monetary value from a grateful patient. What is the most ethically appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Decline the gift and explain that accepting it could compromise professional objectivity

Answer

Accept the gift to avoid offending the patient

Answer

Accept the gift but report it to a supervisor

Answer

Accept only if the gift is below a set dollar threshold