EMD Legal and Liability Issues 2

Question 1

Which legal doctrine protects EMDs in most US states when they follow established protocols in good faith?

Accepted Answer

Good Samaritan statutes

Answer

Good Samaritan statutes in most states extend liability protection to EMDs who follow approved dispatch protocols in good faith.

Question 2

An EMD fails to ask a caller about the patient's breathing status, and the patient dies. This could constitute which type of liability?

Accepted Answer

Negligence

Answer

Failing to follow protocol steps such as assessing breathing constitutes negligence because it breaches the duty of care owed to the caller.

Question 3

What is the legal term for the obligation an EMD has to provide appropriate emergency dispatch services to callers?

Accepted Answer

Duty to act

Answer

Duty to act is the legal obligation that requires an EMD to respond appropriately once they accept a call for emergency services.

Question 4

A dispatcher sends the wrong resource level and the patient's condition worsens. Which element of negligence does this most directly establish?

Accepted Answer

Causation

Answer

Causation links the dispatcher's breach of protocol to the patient's worsened condition, establishing that the breach directly caused harm.

Question 5

Under HIPAA, which of the following is permissible without patient authorization when transferring a call to a receiving hospital?

Accepted Answer

Sharing PHI for treatment coordination purposes

Answer

HIPAA's treatment exception permits sharing protected health information with other healthcare providers for the purpose of coordinating treatment.

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test