ethical issues in paramedic practice

While carers might have a duty to make decisions that benefit the patient and are least restrictive of the patient's rights, it can be difficult for clinicians to uphold and appropriately consider the patient's wishes when another person is responsible for their decision-making. A key assumption of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA, 2005), is that a person has capacity until proved otherwise. It is particularly important for clinicians to assess patient capacity every time they attend a person rather than relying on past experiences that because the person lacked capacity owing to their mental illness during a previous attendance, they will somehow lack capacity on all future presentations. 105: 9 Using quantitative research methods in paramedic practice. This is a condition referred to as alogia or poverty of speech and is another sign of psychosis (Turner, 2009; Harris and Millman, 2011; Kleiger and Khadivi, 2015). The disawdvantage to the use of the MHA in this case though, is that it required police involvement as opposed to health care professionals (Parsons et al, 2011), which the Department of Health (2014) appear to be attempting to move away from in their review of section 136 of the MHA. Where decisions are taken which are contradictory to views expressed, professionals should explain the reasons for this. He wasn't known to have sustained a head injury, nor taken any alcohol or drugs. They must also deliver care that is consistent with ethical standards and respectful of the expectations, preferences and beliefs of the patient. This research aims to highlight and explore underlying values present within practice-based decisions. The ethics in paramedicine has become a field of interest for many scientists and researchers. However, the crew were able to identify some typical symptoms of psychosis in Johns' behaviour. Sign up to Journal of Paramedic Practices regular newsletters and keep up-to-date with the very latest clinical research and CPD we publish each month. Modern paramedicine tends to use the ethical standards developed by scientists T. Beauchamp and J. Childress. A person must be presumed to have capacity unless it is established that he lacks capacity. This situation will hopefully alter over time, so this module attempts to present the four ethical contexts common in other health disciplines and discuss them in relation to paramedic practice.Learning OutcomesAfter completing this module you will be able: To provide an overview of the four key ethical principles that underpin current clinical practice in the UK To explore these four ethical principles in relation to specific prehospital and clinical issues To encourage the practitioner to reflect on their own ethical practice To begin to develop the ability to share, discuss and debate the four ethical principles with colleagues and friends, in relation to your own clinical practice. This article addresses these questions by exploring the relationship between healthcare ethics, health law and evidence-based practice in paramedicine. The priorities of the medical director C. The wishes of the general public D. Locally accepted protocols, During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports . Avulnerable adult is a person who is at increased risk of harm or exploitation because their ability to make decisions, express concerns or defend themselves is diminished (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2016; Byju et al, 2019; de Chesnay, 2019; University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, 2019). Very often, the patients points of view on the most suitable treatment do not correlate with the opinions of professionals. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on: Select one: A. In particular, privacy and confidentiality considerations must be foremost when others are present such as work colleagues or neighbours. What makes them vulnerable is their lack of defences or resources to deal with threats or risk (Schrder-Butterfill and Marianti, 2006). Often, a person's capacity to consent to care is presumed intact until such a time that the patient refuses treatment, which appears to be in their best interest (Jones et al, 2014). Paramedics delivering palliative and end-of-life care in community http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/pmj.79.929.151 There is currently some debate as to whether the police are the most suitable personnel to be detaining patients under the MHA for a variety of reasons, and paramedics are mentioned as a potential alternative group to utilise this law in the future (Department of Health, 2014). Ethical problems in clinical practice | Postgraduate Medical Journal Introduction. Utilizing a priority dispatch system allows dispatchers to send response . Autonomy is an important healthcare principle because it ensures a person maintains control over decisions relating to their healthcare. This CPD module will focus on some of the key ethical issues in relation to paramedic practice and prehospital care. Nevertheless, paramedicine policies should encourage patients to follow a healthy way of life and apply certain procedures, without intervening in their personal lives and decisions (Sharp, Palmore, & Grady, 2014). Overview This CPD module aims to outline, describe and explain some of the key ethical-legal issues in paramedic practice, and their relation to the concept of consent, a duty of care and negligence. Children are individuals so, although they have not reached adulthood, they should not be excluded from participating in healthcare decisions that affect them. The Department of Constitutional Affairs (2007) states that a person's ability to make decisions to protect themselves must always be in balance with their civil right to make such decisions. Practitioners must manage care that is least restrictive of the patient's rights (Mental Capacity Act 2005, section 1). Similarly, the principle of ethical justice refers to the necessity to provide all patients with equal care and treatment possibilities. Consequently, the crew began to assess for a psychological cause. People with a disability may have carers who assist with decision-making and/or to protect their wishes, or who are entirely responsible for decision-making. Other sections of the MHA can be utilised to remove a person from their property but require further input from other professionals ranging from magistrates to psychiatric doctors and approved mental health professionals (see appendix 2). In some cases, it may be a confusing task to react properly to the emerged contradictory issues, preserving the legal implications and moral duties at the same time. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success. Fitness to practise - Health and Care Professions Council Paramedical practice should not neglect the intentions of patients to undergo certain types of treatment but fulfill the required tasks responsibly and credibly (Sharp, Palmore, & Grady, 2014). A consensus among paramedic supervisors B. Townsend and Luck (2009) state that these additional legislative powers have actually led to more confusion for paramedics attempting to manage mental health patients, advocating the need for further training in order to grasp a better understanding of the ethics and law involved. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Ethics and law in paramedic practice: Boundaries of capacity and It can be used by . The scientists regard those ethical principles as principles of respect, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice (Beauchamp & Childress, 2008). Vulnerable patients are at an increased risk of harm or exploitation in healthcare. This exploratory case study utilized semi-structured interviews of thirteen North. It seems paramount that whichever decision is made and Act is used, should the patient receive any form of involuntary treatment, the principles of the MCA and the MHA are upheld, and any decision made is in the patients best interest (Department of Health, 2005). John had arrived at a friend's house during the night, behaving in a strange, confused manner. Paramedic Practice Test. Ethical Challenges in Emergency Medical Services: Controversies and BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science | Buckinghamshire New University The ethical and legal dilemmas paramedics face when managing a mental Therefore, where appropriate, the MHA is likely to take precedence over the MCA where a patient is being treated for a mental health disorder. Paramedics must deliver appropriate clinical care within the boundaries of the law, clinical guidelines and evidence-based standards. This paper highlights some of the ethical dilemmas that face practising clinicians in their everyday life and restates how useful the General Medical Council guidance is to make appropriate decisions. The article argues that the situation raised dilemmas about communication, patient autonomy and paternalism. Although, hallucinations, delusions etc. Maintaining a professional boundary between you and your patient (summary) Apart from being a paramedic, entails checking for dangers as part of your primary survey, to protect yourself, bystanders and the patient. Confidentiality, capacity and consent. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedic Practice PROFESSIONALISM Professionalism in UK paramedic practice Prof Malcolm Major incident clinical . Sign up to Journal of Paramedic Practices regular newsletters and keep up-to-date with the very latest clinical research and CPD we publish each month. The term psychosis can be used as an umbrella term for a number of different psychotic disorders (NICE, 2014) and so will be utilised here due to the lack of specific diagnosis present for John. Copyright 2023 However, it's unclear whether the MCA would have been the best act to utilise to provide treatment without consent in this case. Vulnerable patients are at an increased risk of harm or exploitation in healthcare. For specific vulnerable groupssuch as children, older people, those with mental illness and persons with a disabilitythere are some consistent ethical considerations for clinicians. One of the most important legal principles in paramedicine is the preservation of patients personal information and data. These factors contribute to an ethically complex decision-making environment. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The judicial branch at the state level is responsible for, If a paramedic is attacked by a violent patient, When an administrative agency proposes a licensing action in a state that licenses paramedics, the agency must notify the paramedic of the actions that allegedly constituted the infraction. Monday, January 2, 2017. In contrast, family discordance was reported by nine studies as a significant barrier to paramedic practice of palliative and end-of-life care. Decision making in this environment is intended to provide care and treatment in the best interests of the patient. The paramedics should take into account the health conditions of patients, the seriousness of their problem, their relations with relatives, and probable reactions to different types of treatment before making the final decision. Pre Hospital Ethics and Legal Issues - LawTeacher.net They must also deliver care that is consistent with ethical. Ethics part 1: what do paramedics owe patients? It also calls for the appropriate estimation of patients rights and a tolerant attitude to them. People with mental illness may also be vulnerable because their illness may sometimes render them unable to make some decisions or, like older patients, their decision-making ability fluctuates. Such a situation is irresponsible and dangerous in terms of not only morality and ethics but also legislation. Paramedic practice must consider all of these factors to ensure ethically good care. @article{6040c026e1e34bd9b7239761b13480e7. He was also unable to effectively communicate his decision making process. The Paramedic'S Guide To Research: An Introduction - Google Books Paramedic: Legislation And And Guidance That Govern The - Edubirdie With the exception of life-threatening situations (where a paramedic will often act in the patient's best interests to protect the patient's wellbeing), the preference is for clinicians to restore capacity or to wait for capacity to resume before intervening in the care of the patient. Perceptions and concerns about receiving treatment at hospital may arise for a number of reasons, such as fear of not returning home, an experience of relatives dying in hospital, worry about pets, stoicism and beliefs about not wanting to bother others. For many, staying at home is an important consideration in their decisions; older people may only wish to receive care that can be delivered in their home. Paramedics have professional duties toward vulnerable persons. Negligence relates to all areas of legal and ethical issues for a paramedic, if a paramedic breaches their duty of care, treats without consent, or doesn't treat patient information with the confidentiality that they deserve then they may be deemed negligent, and therefore face legal action. Commonly, these four principles help the paramedics make the optimal decisions and protect the interests of clients, acting both morally and legally. Legal & Ethical issues associated with paramedic practice during COVID19. Ethics, bioethics and legal issues in paramedic practice. The authors have faced all eight of the clinical scenarios in this paper in their routine clinical practice. Children are considered vulnerable patients because until they reach the age of 16 (Mental Capacity Act 2005: section 2(5)), their parents have parental responsibility for decision-making. The ambulance crew's concerns for John's welfare prompted them to assess his level of risk to self and others. Dive into the research topics of 'Ethics and law in paramedic practice: Boundaries of capacity and interests'. The Mental Health Act (1983) The MHA can be used to provide treatment for mental health disorders without consent (Department of Constitutional Affairs, 2007). Methods An EMT or paramedic with integrity adheres to ethical principles despite any pressures or temptations to do otherwise [4]. Unlike in countries such as Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland where there are mandatory reporting laws, individual health professionals in England are not criminally liable if they fail to report other instances of known or suspected child abuse or neglect (Forster, 2020). Paramedic Professional Practice | Curtin University In other words, paramedics need to adopt the principle of confidentiality and credence. The primary task of paramedics is to provide opportune and unprejudiced services, correlating them with legal regulations. By midday, his ability to communicate was largely diminished and his friend, unable to help John, had phoned for emergency services. More specifically, how should they navigate these situations in the presence of complexities such as diminished mental capacity and end-of-life care? 2 Function, build and sustain collaborative, professional relationships as a member of a team within multidisciplinary teams and agencies Thompson et al (2011) highlight that frequent callers (also known as frequent users) are known to clinicians because they regularly require paramedic support, usually as a result of a mental illness. However, again, in much the same way as with other vulnerable people, they may have a sliding scale of autonomy, and paramedics will need to determine each patient's ability to understand, retain and weigh the information being provided to them about their medical condition. A significant ethical consideration for clinicians when treating older patients is their capacity. | Ethical dilemmas in prehospital emergency care - SpringerLink This course is made up of a number of paramedic specific units and additional health care units. Professional practice framework, professional rights and responsibilities, record keeping, governance. However, the Department of Health (2015) clearly state that it is, so long as the patient hasn't already had their liberties removed under the MHA (1983). PDF Ethical Questions in Emergency Medical Services: Controversies and Overview Fingerprint Abstract Principlism is arguably the dominant recognised ethical framework used within medicine and other Western health professions today, including the UK paramedic profession. At this time, using police powers seemed to be the last option available to ensure John's safety and treatment. Such a position will help improve the system and lead to effective and fruitful results. On assessment, John didn't appear to understand the information given to him, the decision he needed to make, and he was unable to retain or comprehend treatment plans or the risks of noncompliance. Removed to place of safety for up to 72 hours for further assessment. practice with medical specialists. Many people with an intellectual disability or communication difficulties often have written information available, particularly in care facilities, that has been compiled with the assistance of family members, health professionals such as occupational therapists or speech pathologists, psychologists and (of course) the patient (e.g. It is important to remember that some dilemmas have no universally right solutions, and their consequences depend on every situation. Continuing Professional Development: Ethical issues in paramedic practice Continuing Professional Development: Ethical issues in paramedic practice Friday, August 5, 2011 OverviewThis CPD module will focus on some of the key ethical issues in relation to paramedic practice and prehospital care. C. vehicle safety. Here we provide services and products that are for reference purpose only & are not intended to be put forward as finalised work & are to be used strictly for assistance in writing your own research material papers. This may entail organising supervision or support, transporting both the patient and their dependants in more than one ambulance if need be or arranging neighbour, support services or family visits. Examples of harmful actions include the lack of hospital care, utilization of unsuitable medicines, implementation of some procedures and interventions without the agreement of patients as well as the disclosure of confidential information (Aehlert, 2012). Allowing a 16-year-old person to make healthcare decisions yet restricting a person one month before their 16th birthday from doing the same seems arbitrary and illogical. Nevertheless, despite personal values and beliefs, paramedics should provide their patients with essential treatment, medicine, support, and instructions. And even though the legal issues may have been covered, the ethical implications of the lack of healthcare provided are undoubtedly contrary to good clinical practice given it represents the deliberate concealment of a therapy (or lack of it) used in a given person. A complex range of personal, medical, social and environmental factors may contribute to older people being vulnerable. For example, some people with conditions such as cerebral palsy may appear to have an intellectual disability that precludes decision-making capacity, where in fact they have no cognitive disability, only communication difficulties. 8 Quantitative research in paramedic practice an overview. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983. This can explain why paramedics also report feelings of confusion surrounding the MCA and a lack of confidence in utilising it (Amblum 2014). EBOOK: Blaber's Foundations for Paramedic Practice: A Theoretical Perspective Amanda Blaber 2018-11-19 This bestselling undergraduate level book is an ideal resource for student paramedics looking for an excellent introduction to the main theoretical subjects studied in paramedic courses, and links practice issues to the all-important theory . 03 What factors affect paramedics' involvement of people with dementia

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ethical issues in paramedic practice