Paramedics delivering palliative and end-of-life care in community As with any patient, capacity can fluctuate, although this is more likely with older patients. In the theory of principle based ethics a paramedic must practise non-maleficence and beneficence. Background This case report discusses an ethical communication dilemma in prehospital patient interaction, involving a patient who was about to board a plane at a busy airport. 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. Another ethical principle in paramedicine is beneficence. While clinical information should always be held in confidence, the stigma associated with mental illness means that most patients value their privacy more so in this regard, and paramedics have a duty to ensure they do not share this information, even inadvertently. The Mental Health Act (1983) The MHA can be used to provide treatment for mental health disorders without consent (Department of Constitutional Affairs, 2007). It means that all actions and decisions implemented by the paramedicine practitioners should not only comply with the moral aspect but also with the legislative laws and rules (Aehlert, 2012). In this case, John refused to engage with the ambulance crew leading the crew to consider both the MCA and the MHA to protect the patient's wellbeing without his consent. Having considered the probability of causes for John's symptoms, the crew suspected John may have been suffering from psychosis. However, children's life experiences, maturity and understanding differ from one individual to the nextdepending on factors such as their age, culture, health, upbringing, background and environmentsand their ability to process healthcare-related information also varies. In addition, due to John's virtually complete lack of speech, it was excessively difficult to ascertain if he was suffering any hallucinations/delusions at that time. During the shared decision-making process between clinician and patient, paramedics must respect these preferences but also be sure that the material risks associated with alternative options for treatment (including non-transport) are clearly explained to the patient (Chan et al, 2017).
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science | Buckinghamshire New University This principle refers to both physical and mental damage, which can be done to the clients.
Therefore, consideration of these effects is part of how they treat patients and make decisions. 122: 10 Researching paramedic clinical practice a practical guide. Monday, January 2, 2017. Stirrat, Johnston, Gillon, and Boyd (2010) suppose that paramedics should be aware of the ethical rules and follow them at the workplace. 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.
Paramedic ethics, capacity and the treatment of vulnerable patients Psychiatric admission for assessment and subsequent treatment if required. title = "Ethics and law in paramedic practice: Boundaries of capacity and interests". This article addresses these questions by exploring the relationship between healthcare ethics, health law and evidence-based practice in paramedicine.". / Carver, Hamish; Moritz, Dominique; Ebbs, Phillip. Paramedics have professional duties toward vulnerable persons.
A. 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).
Together they form a unique fingerprint. Unfortunately, in this case, it was wrongly thought by the crew that the MCA could not be used to enforce treatment plans for mental health conditions. This expanded role builds on the skills and preparation of the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic, with the intention of fulfilling the health care needs of those populations with limited access to primary care services.
Ethical issues in medical malpractice - PubMed Wherever possible a patient's independence should be encouraged and supported with a focus on promoting recovery wherever possible. Sections 182 (1) a-e, 184 and 162 c-d of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic.) Therefore, paramedicine practitioners should take all measures to respect the privacy of patients and satisfy their demand for confidentiality. The researchers have outlined four main ethical principles, which are important for consideration in paramedicine. Undergraduate students who study ethics in nursing have an opportunity during their clinical practice, to discuss and reflect on a range of ethical and moral actions. 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. After that, we provide a few recommendations that can assist healthcare professionals in improving their capacity for making ethical decisions. Police may remove a person from a public place where they are believed to be suffering from mental illness and at risk of harm to themselves or others. People with a disability may have difficulty advocating for themselves because of communication issues or their disability may affect their understanding of healthcare considerations. 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. While parents should be making decisions for infants and very young children, children develop in their maturity as they age and experience life. B. EMTs are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented.
1 Demonstrate an adaptive, flexible and self-directed commitment to the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and to the delivery of primary health care across the lifespan. At these times, police are frequently involved in the prehospital management of patients where there is a potential risk of physical harm to either the patient or paramedics. This was because of current UK law and a lack of access to a GP respectively. 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). Practical issues of capacity, autonomy and beneficence as they apply to some of the most common vulnerable groups that UK paramedics may encounter: children, older people, those with a mental illness and persons with a disability are explored. Where decisions are taken which are contradictory to views expressed, professionals should explain the reasons for this. Ethical deliberation contributes to practitioners' critical thinking skills and helps prepare them for decision-making under uncertainty. Harris and Millman (2011) highlight the importance of ruling out a physical cause for the patient presenting with altered mental status such as hypoglycaemia, head injuries, infection and alcohol or drug use. The disclosure of confidential information, as well as the announcement of personal data about patients, supposes administrative and even criminal responsibility (Steer, 2007). In such circumstances, clinicians have the added consideration of not only treating the patient but also ensuring the other vulnerable party is protected. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Jobs that involve the application of the MCA, either to protect the patient or deprive them of their civil liberties, can present a number of challenges to paramedics.
Should paramedics ever accept patients' refusal - BMC Medical Ethics Decision-making is central to the everyday practice of paramedicine. The scientists regard those ethical principles as principles of respect, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice (Beauchamp & Childress, 2008). While the moral or ethical side of paramedicine depends on various religious, cultural, and personal beliefs and views, its legal aspect has a strict definition. Although provider judgment plays a large role in the . While the second article in this series (Carver et al, 2020) discussed mental illness where it related to end-of-life care and self-harm, it should be remembered that patient vulnerability can exist in those with chronic mental illness over their lifetime. Practitioners must be mindful that, despite the frequent interactions with these patients, their behaviour is often perpetuated by mental illness, and the patient needs care for their chronic illness just the same as they would for any other illness. According to Jones et al (2014), the third principle of the MCA (see Table 1) allows patients with capacity to make their own decisions even if they appear unwise or irrational. A mother (Victoria Gillick) sought to have medical practitioners refuse to provide medical advice to her daughters, aged under 16, in relation to contraception. There were no obvious physical causes for John's behaviour at this stage. Autonomy is an important healthcare principle because it ensures a person maintains control over decisions relating to their healthcare. This article looks into the current difficulties many UK paramedics face when trying to manage patients presenting with a mental health condition in a safe and respectful manner; particularly when the patient requires some form of treatment but refuses this against medical advice.
Challenges UK paramedics currently face in providing fully effective Every job a paramedic enters, the risk of getting injured is always prominent; But with the correct approach, that risk is minimised.