CPR Certification and Legal Aspects Flashcards
6 cards from real CPR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CPR Certification and Legal Aspects flashcards as text
What does 'implied consent' mean in the context of emergency CPR?
Answer: The law assumes an unconscious or unresponsive victim would consent to life-saving care if they were able
Implied consent is the legal principle that an unconscious or incapacitated person in a life-threatening situation would consent to emergency care — rescuers need not wait for explicit permission.
Under what circumstance may a rescuer legally withhold CPR from an unresponsive adult?
Answer: When a valid DNR order or POLST form is present and accessible
A valid, accessible DNR or POLST order is a legal directive that removes the obligation to initiate CPR — verbal objection from family without documentation does not legally override the obligation to treat.
What is the role of the 'recorder' in a hospital resuscitation team?
Answer: To document real-time events, medications given, and timing during the resuscitation
The recorder documents the timeline, interventions, medications administered, and rhythm findings during resuscitation — this record is essential for post-event debriefing and continuity of care.
What is 'bystander CPR' and why is it critical in the out-of-hospital setting?
Answer: CPR initiated by a lay bystander before EMS arrives, which doubles or triples survival rates from cardiac arrest
Bystander CPR — performed by a layperson before EMS arrives — is one of the strongest predictors of cardiac arrest survival; it maintains circulation during the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.
Which US agency provides the national CPR and emergency care research standards used by the AHA?
Answer: The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), whose evidence reviews inform AHA guidelines
ILCOR is the international body that systematically reviews resuscitation evidence; the AHA uses ILCOR's consensus science to develop its CPR guidelines for the US.
What is the significance of the 'Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival' (CARES) in the US?
Answer: It is a national database that tracks out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes to measure the effectiveness of community resuscitation programs
CARES is a national registry that collects data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to benchmark community resuscitation programs, identify gaps, and improve survival rates across the US.