Legal and Liability Issues Flashcards

Which of the following best describes 'standard of care' as it applies to EMD liability?

Answer: The level of care that a reasonable, similarly trained EMD would provide under the same circumstances

Standard of care is the benchmark of how a competent EMD with similar training would perform, and deviating from it is the basis for a negligence claim.

A caller refuses to allow instructions for performing CPR on their family member. How should an EMD respond?

Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and confirm units are en route

Competent adults have the right to refuse assistance; the EMD should document the refusal and ensure emergency resources are still being dispatched.

What does 'scope of practice' mean for an EMD?

Answer: The specific tasks and instructions an EMD is trained and authorized to perform

Scope of practice defines the legally authorized boundaries of what an EMD can do based on their training, certification, and agency protocols.

Which element is NOT required to prove negligence against an EMD?

Answer: The dispatcher intended to cause harm

Negligence does not require intent; it only requires proof of duty, breach, causation, and damages — intent is an element of intentional torts, not negligence.

A minor child calls 911 and requests emergency help. The EMD's authority to provide instructions is most supported by:

Answer: Implied consent because the child is in an emergency situation

In emergency situations involving minors, implied consent applies, allowing the EMD to provide necessary instructions to protect the child's life.

Medical priority dispatch protocols are primarily designed to reduce liability by ensuring:

Answer: Consistent, evidence-based responses that meet or exceed the standard of care

Approved protocols provide a consistent, research-based framework that establishes the standard of care and reduces liability when followed correctly.

An EMD overhears a coworker giving dangerous incorrect CPR instructions. The EMD's professional and legal responsibility is to:

Answer: Immediately correct the colleague and notify a supervisor

Patient safety and professional duty require immediate intervention when life-threatening incorrect information is being given, followed by supervisor notification.