1.4

UNIT TERMINAL OBJECTIVE

1-4

At the completion of this unit, the paramedic student will understand the legal issues that impact decisions made in the out-of-hospital environment.

COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES

At the completion of this unit, the paramedic student will be able to:

1-4.1

Differentiate between legal and ethical responsibilities. (C-2)

1-4.2

Describe the basic structure of the legal system in the United States. (C-1)

1-4.3

Differentiate between civil and criminal law as it pertains to the paramedic. (C-1)

1-4.4

Identify and explain the importance of laws pertinent to the paramedic. (C-1)

1-4.5

Differentiate between licensure and certification as they apply to the paramedic. (C-1)

1-4.6

List the specific problems or conditions encountered while providing care that a paramedic is required to report, and identify in each instance to whom the report is to be made. (C-1)

1-4.7

Define the following terms: (C-1)

a.

Abandonment

b.

Advance directives

c.

Assault

d.

Battery

e.

Breach of duty

f.

Confidentiality

g.

Consent (expressed, implied, informed, involuntary)

h.

Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders

i.

Duty to act

j.

Emancipated minor

k.

False imprisonment

l.

Immunity

m.

Liability

n.

Libel

o.

Minor

p.

Negligence

q.

Proximate cause

r.

Scope of practice

s.

Slander

t.

Standard of care

u.

Tort

1-4.8

Differentiate between the scope of practice and the standard of care for paramedic practice. (C-3)

1-4.9

Discuss the concept of medical direction, including off-line medical direction and on-line medical direction, and its relationship to the standard of care of a paramedic. (C-1)

1-4.10

Describe the four elements that must be present in order to prove negligence. (C-1)

1-4.11

Given a scenario in which a patient is injured while a paramedic is providing care, determine whether the four components of negligence are present. (C-2)

1-4.12

Given a scenario, demonstrate patient care behaviors that would protect the paramedic from claims of negligence. (C-3)

1-4.13

Explain the concept of liability as it might apply to paramedic practice, including physicians providing medical direction and paramedic supervision of other care providers. (C-2)

1-4.14

Discuss the legal concept of immunity, including Good Samaritan statutes and governmental immunity, as it applies to the paramedic. (C-1)

1-4.15

Explain the importance and necessity of patient confidentiality and the standards for maintaining patient confidentiality that apply to the paramedic. (C-1)

1-4.16

Differentiate among expressed, informed, implied, and involuntary consent. (C-2)

1-4.17

Given a scenario in which a paramedic is presented with a conscious patient in need of care, describe the process used to obtain consent. (C-2)

1-4.18

Identify the steps to take if a patient refuses care. (C-1)

1-4.19

Given a scenario, demonstrate appropriate patient management and care techniques in a refusal of care situation. (C-3)

1-4.20

Describe what constitutes abandonment. (C-1)

1-4.21

Identify the legal issues involved in the decision not to transport a patient, or to reduce the level of care being provided during transportation. (C-1)

1-4.22

Describe how hospitals are selected to receive patients based on patient need and hospital capability and the role of the paramedic in such selection. (C-1)

1-4.23

Differentiate between assault and battery and describe how to avoid each. (C-2)

1-4.24

Describe the conditions under which the use of force, including restraint, is acceptable. (C-1)

1-4.25

Explain the purpose of advance directives relative to patient care and how the paramedic should care for a patient who is covered by an advance directive. (C-1)

1-4.26

Discuss the responsibilities of the paramedic relative to resuscitation efforts for patients who are potential organ donors. (C-1)

1-4.27

Describe the actions that the paramedic should take to preserve evidence at a crime or accident scene. (C-1)

1-4.28

Describe the importance of providing accurate documentation (oral and written) in substantiating an incident. (C-1)

1-4.29

Describe the characteristics of a patient care report required to make it an effective legal document. (C-1)

1-4.30

Given a scenario, prepare a patient care report, including an appropriately detailed narrative. (C-2)

AFFECTIVE OBJECTIVES

At the completion of this unit, the paramedic student will be able to:

1-4.31

Advocate the need to show respect for the rights and feelings of patients. (A-3)

1-4.32

Assess his/ her personal commitment to protecting patient confidentiality. (A-3)

1-4.33

Given a scenario involving a new employee, explain the importance of obtaining consent for adults and minors. (A-2)

1-4.34

Defend personal beliefs about withholding or stopping patient care. (A-3)

1-4.35

Defend the value of advance medical directives. (A-3)