Course: CPR for Professionals

The Law and You

As an emergency medical responder, you have a duty to act as soon as you are called to or observe a medical emergency.  This is considered as a part of your official duties once you decided to become CPR certified.

You are held to a certain standard of care, which is related to your level of training, and you are expected to perform to the level to which a similarly trained person would perform under similar circumstances.

You should understand the differences among:

- Expressed consent
- Implied consent
- Consent for minors
- Consent of mentally ill persons
- The right to refuse care

Advance directives give a patient the right to have care withheld. If the emergency medical responder is not able to determine the validity of these documents, it is best to begin treatment for these patients.

You should understand the concepts of:

- Abandonment
- Negligence
- Confidentiality
- Good Samaritan laws

You must understand the importance of federal and state regulations that govern your performance as an emergency medical responder. You must also understand your workplace or school's operational regulations. Certain events that deal with contagious diseases, abuse, or illegal acts must be reported to the proper authorities. You should know how to deal with these reportable events.

Crime scene operations are a complex environment. Following proper procedures ensures that the patient receives good medical care and that the crime scene is not compromised for the law enforcement investigation.

By understanding and following these legal concepts, you will build the foundation for the skills you need to be a good emergency medical responder.