You are treating a man who was assaulted and has a closed-head injury. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should:

proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary.

ask a police officer to transport the patient to the hospital.

allow the patient to refuse treatment because the injury was not his fault.

have the police arrest the patient so that you can legally begin treatment.

A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should:

assess whether the patient’s mental condition is impaired.

document the patient’s request but continue to transport him.

have the patient sign a refusal form and return him to his office.

request that the police place the patient under protective custody.

Shortly after you load your patient, a 50-year-old man with abdominal pain, into the ambulance, he tells you that he changed his mind and does not want to go to the hospital. The patient is conscious and alert and has no signs of mental incapacitation. You are suspicious that the man has a significant underlying condition and feel strongly that he should go to the hospital. Which of the following statements regarding this situation is correct?

A mentally competent adult can withdraw his or her consent to treat at any time.

Any patient who refuses EMS treatment must legally sign a patient refusal form.

Because of your suspicions, the best approach is to transport him to the hospital.

Once the patient is in the ambulance, he cannot legally refuse EMS treatment.

You suspect that a 6-year-old girl has broken her leg after falling from a swing at a playground. Shortly after you arrive, the child’s mother appears and refuses to allow you to continue treatment. You should:

try to persuade the mother that treatment is needed.

use your authority under the implied consent law.

ask the mother to sign a refusal form and then leave.

tell the mother that her refusal is a form of child abuse.

In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information?

The patient is competent and signs a release form

A police officer requests a copy to place on file

The family requests a copy for insurance purposes

A media representative inquires about the patient

Your best protection against legal liability when a patient with decision-making capacity refuses EMS care and transport is to:

thoroughly document the entire event.

advise medical control of the situation.

err on the side of caution and transport.

ensure that the family is aware of the risks.

During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you:

are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand.

acted appropriately but must have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others.

adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally.

violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved.

For a do not resuscitate (DNR) order to be valid, it must:

clearly state the patient's medical problem.

be dated within the previous 24 months.

be updated a minimum of every 6 months.

be signed by the local justice of the peace.

When faced with a situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest and a valid living will or DNR order cannot be located, you should:

determine the patient's illness.

notify the coroner immediately.

You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious with slow, shallow breathing and a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should:

begin treatment and contact medical control as needed.

honor the patient's wishes and withhold all treatment.

transport the patient without providing any treatment.

decide on further action once the DNR order is produced.

You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:

have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.

stop any active bleeding and advise dispatch to send a paramedic crew.

ventilate the patient for five minutes and then stop if there is no response.

request the fire department to extricate the patient so you can begin CPR.

Putrefaction is defined as:

decomposition of the body’s tissues.

profound cyanosis to the trunk and face.

blood settling to the lowest point of the body.

separation of the torso from the rest of the body.

When is forcible restraint permitted?

When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others

Anytime that the EMT feels threatened

Only if consent to restrain is given by a family member

Only if law enforcement personnel have witnessed threatening behavior

You have been tasked by your medical director with assisting in the development of your EMS agency’s institutional standards. When developing these standards, it is important to:

be reasonable and realistic to avoid overburdening EMS personnel.

require personnel to transport all patients to the closest hospital.

demand that all personnel consistently exceed the standard of care.

expect personnel to function beyond their scope of practice if needed.

When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to:

exercise reasonable care and act prudently.

consistently exceed the standard of care.

contact medical control on every EMS call.

function above his or her scope of practice.

In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist?

A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change.

The EMT witnesses a vehicle crash while off duty.

The EMT hears of a cardiac arrest after his or her shift ends.

A bystander encounters a victim who is not breathing.

Which of the following most accurately defines negligence?

Deviation from the standard of care that might result in further injury

Transport of a mentally incompetent patient against his or her will

Transferring patient care to a provider with a lower level of training

Providing care that is consistent with care provided by other EMTs

Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence?

Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation

Abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation

Duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation

Breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation

Which of the following scenarios most accurately depicts abandonment?

A paramedic transfers patient care to an EMT.

An AEMT transfers patient care to a paramedic.

A physician assumes patient care from an EMT.

An EMT gives a verbal report to an emergency room nurse.

While transporting a stable patient with chest pain to the hospital, you come across a major motor vehicle crash involving several critically injured patients. You should:

continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash.

ask a bystander to remain with your patient as you treat the crash victims.

remain at the scene until law enforcement and another ambulance arrive.

stop and triage the patients while your partner remains in the ambulance.

An EMT would most likely be held liable for abandonment if he or she:

did not make provisions for continued care of an injured patient.

refused to care for a violent patient who is armed with a knife.

remained at the hospital for 30 minutes to give a patient report.

terminated care of a competent adult patient at his or her request.

Which of the following statements regarding Good Samaritan laws is correct?

Such laws will not protect the EMT in cases of gross negligence.

Such laws provide the EMT with absolute immunity from a lawsuit.

Such laws guarantee that the EMT will not be held liable if he or she is sued.

Such laws do not protect EMTs who are off duty.

If an action or procedure that was performed on a patient is not recorded on the written report:

it was not performed, according to the eyes of the law.

it can be qualified by the EMT in charge.

it cannot be used in establishing negligence.

it was performed haphazardly by the EMT.

In the eyes of the courts, an incomplete or untidy patient care form indicates:

inadequate patient care was administered.

potential falsification of the patient care form.

thorough documentation was not required.

the EMT was too busy providing patient care to fill out the form.

You and your partner are the first to arrive at a potential crime scene with a critically injured patient involved. The scene is safe. Your first priority is to:

provide immediate patient care.

notify medical control for advice.

wait for law enforcement to arrive.

determine why the patient was injured.

Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include:

not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons.

quickly moving any weapons out of the patient’s sight.

placing the patient in a private area until the police arrive.

making brief notes at the scene and then completing them later.

You are dispatched to an apartment complex to respond to a shooting. Law enforcement personnel are present and have the suspect in custody. You find the patient lying in a narrow space between the couch and coffee table of his small apartment. He is semiconscious and has a large gunshot wound to his chest. You should:

quickly move the coffee table so you can access and treat the patient.

obtain permission from law enforcement before moving anything.

treat the patient where he is so that you do not destroy any evidence.

drag the patient into a larger area so that you can begin treatment.

While transporting a woman with diabetes, you inadvertently give her oral glucose even though her blood glucose level was high. You reassess the patient and note that her condition did not change; she remained stable. You should:

contact medical control and notify them of the error.

document the error and report it to your supervisor.

notify law enforcement so they can file an incident report.

exclude this intervention from the PCR because it did not harm the patient.

When you and your partner arrive at the residence of a man in cardiac arrest, you immediately recognize the patient as the drunk driver who killed your brother several years earlier. A backup ambulance is en route to the scene. You should:

begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible.

advise your partner that you cannot provide care to this patient.

wait for the backup ambulance while your partner performs CPR.

obtain permission from medical control to not attempt resuscitation.

You receive a subpoena to testify in court regarding a case that occurred two years ago in which you and your partner did not attempt resuscitation of a cardiac arrest patient. Upon receiving the subpoena, you should:

notify the director of your EMS system and obtain legal counsel.

call the district attorney’s office and explain the details of the case.

attach an official addendum to the original patient care report.

contact the patient’s family in an attempt to resolve the matter with them.

Chapter 3 and 4 EMT Review Quiz

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should:

always transport patients to the hospital of their choice.

provide competent care that meets current standards.

use universal precautions with every patient encounter.

utilize at least four personnel when moving a patient.

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct?

A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse treatment.

Patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment.

Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member.

All patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport.

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old, mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?

Formal

Implied

Informed

Expressed

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following scenarios is an example of informed consent?

A patient advises an EMT of why he or she is refusing care.

An EMT advises a patient of the risks of receiving treatment.

An EMT initiates immediate care for an unconscious adult.

A patient is advised by an EMT of the risks of refusing care.

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following types of consent allows treatment of a patient who is unconscious or mentally incapacitated?

Actual

Implied

Informed

Expressed

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

You are dispatched to an office building for a 49-year-old male with chest pain. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient to be conscious and alert but in obvious pain. He tells you that he did not call 911; a coworker did. He further states that he does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. You should:

ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care.

err in the best interest of the patient and transport him at once.

have him sign a refusal of care form and then return to service.

tell him that he is having a heart attack and needs medical care.

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

You suspect that a pregnant 16-year-old girl has a broken leg after she was hit by a car. You explain that you plan to splint her leg, and she agrees to treatment. Which of the following types of consent describes her agreement?

Implied

Informed

Expressed

Minor’s

8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

In many states, a minor may be treated as an adult for the purpose of consenting to or refusing medical treatment if the minor:

possesses a valid driver’s license.

is mentally competent and able to refuse.

has a poor relationship with his or her parents.

is self-supporting and lives by him- or herself.

9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child’s parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?

Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital.

Treat the child at the scene and wait for the parents to arrive and give consent.

Begin transport at once and have the parents meet you en route to the hospital.

Withhold treatment until the parents arrive and give you consent for treatment.

10.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

You are dispatched to a middle school for a 16-year-old female experiencing an asthma attack. She is conscious and alert but in severe respiratory distress. The school nurse informs you that she has tried several times to contact the patient’s parents but has not been successful. You should:

provide treatment up to your level of training and transport the child at once.

recognize that you cannot begin treatment without expressed parental consent.

transport the child to the closest hospital and let the staff there provide any treatment.

administer oxygen only until you receive parental consent for further treatment.

Chapter 3 and 4 EMT Review

73 questions

To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should:

Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct?

Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old, mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?

Which of the following scenarios is an example of informed consent?

Which of the following types of consent allows treatment of a patient who is unconscious or mentally incapacitated?

You suspect that a pregnant 16-year-old girl has a broken leg after she was hit by a car. You explain that you plan to splint her leg, and she agrees to treatment. Which of the following types of consent describes her agreement?

In many states, a minor may be treated as an adult for the purpose of consenting to or refusing medical treatment if the minor:

You are dispatched to a middle school for a 16-year-old female experiencing an asthma attack. She is conscious and alert but in severe respiratory distress. The school nurse informs you that she has tried several times to contact the patient’s parents but has not been successful. You should:

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