Re: pt. consent

["Wesley Copeland Sr., MICT, NREMT-P, FP-C, CCEMTP" <wcemt@terraworld.net>]

While I agree that "doing what's best for the patient" should be at the fore
front of all our actions, we must also remember that this is not a viable
defense to charges of battery or false imprisonment.  The patient or
patients family (if the patient is unable to make an informed decision) does
have the legal right to refuse transport to a particular facility regardless
of how we feel about it or what our protocols say.  We need to explain the
benefits and risks associated with such refusals in great detail in hopes
that the patient/family may change their mind and to protect ourselves but
we can not force treatment or transport on anyone.

Wesley Copeland FP-C


From: "Laurie A. Romig, MD" <laurie.romig@verizon.net>
To: <flightmed@flightweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 5:49 AM
Subject: RE: pt. consent


> I think that this is actually a pretty multi-facetted question. The first
> thing to do is to check your state or regional/local laws or rules to see
> the exact wording ("must" vs "should" kind of thing). Next, if you were
> never apprised of the family's wishes, it's kind of difficult to hold you
> responsible. Finally, did anyone inform the family of the risks associated
> with transport to the Level III facility? Was this an informed request?
> Personally, I'd be worrying more at that point about making sure that the
> hospital that my relative was going to was capable of delivering the
needed
> care, and worry about niceties later! If I were the patient and had full
> mental faculties before and after medical care, I might blame my family
for
> making the wrong decision. The moral high ground (do what's best for the
> patient) is always your best base of operation!
>
> Laurie Romig, MD
> LifeNet5, Bartow, FL
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: flightmed-admin@flightweb.com
> [mailto:flightmed-admin@flightweb.com]On Behalf Of
> jffmedic46@netzero.com
> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 5:23 PM
> To: flightmed@flightweb.com
> Subject: pt. consent
>
>
> I have question for anyone that will answer. I had a elderly patient
> involved in an MVC with +loc at scene, multiple extremity fractures,
pelvic
> fracture, head lac, Responsive to name only following prolonged
extracation.
> 30 minutes to only Level I trauma center around. EMS on scene stated pt.
> family wants her taken to a Level III hospital same distance away for they
> did not like how past family members where treated at Level I in the past.
> Our guidelines state to take her to the Level I Trauma center with the
> injuries that she had,which we did. Now family states their rights were
> violated. The crew did not talk to the family at the scene, only the EMS
> unit that called us. The EMS unit had told the family that we had to take
> her to the most appropriate facility and left it at that. My question is,
> "Was this patients rights violated?"
>
> J. Stone NREMT-P
>
>
>
>
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