FISDAP EMS Legal and Ethical Principles

Question 1

A competent adult patient with a painful leg fracture refuses transport to the hospital. What is the EMT's most important next step?

Accepted Answer

Ensure the patient is informed of the risks of refusal and have them sign a refusal form

Answer

Contact medical direction and transport the patient anyway

Answer

Document the refusal in your mind and leave the scene immediately

Answer

Call law enforcement to force transport

Question 2

An EMT arrives to find an unresponsive adult patient with no family present and no advance directive. Under what legal doctrine can the EMT treat the patient without explicit consent?

Accepted Answer

Implied consent

Answer

Expressed consent

Answer

Involuntary consent

Answer

Presumed refusal

Question 3

Which of the following actions by an EMT would most likely constitute abandonment?

Accepted Answer

Stopping care and leaving before transferring to an equal or higher level of care

Answer

Transferring care to a paramedic crew at the scene

Answer

Leaving the patient at the hospital with nursing staff

Answer

Declining a non-emergency call because another unit is closer

Question 4

A patient presents with a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. The patient goes into cardiac arrest. What should the EMT do?

Accepted Answer

Honor the DNR, withhold resuscitation, and provide comfort measures

Answer

Initiate CPR because DNR orders are not valid in the field

Answer

Contact the family to override the DNR

Answer

Begin CPR until medical direction is reached

Question 5

Under HIPAA, which of the following disclosures of patient information is PERMITTED without the patient's authorization?

Accepted Answer

Releasing information to another treating provider for continuity of care

Answer

Sharing the patient's diagnosis with their employer

Answer

Posting patient information on social media for training purposes

Answer

Discussing patient details with a neighbor who witnessed the call

Question 6

An EMT performs an intervention that is outside their certification level without physician authorization. This is best described as acting outside their:

Accepted Answer

Scope of practice

Answer

Standard of care

Answer

Duty to act

Answer

Chain of command