Re: Medico-Legal Operational Question

[Guest guest]

The reality is that from the time your dispatcher receives the call your

medical director has an established doctor-patient relationship with that

patient. This was the basis for the original findings on this question.

Unless you are physically impaired (part of the #2 accident), you are

responsible for the #1 call to which you were dispatched.

Of course this can be " what if'ed " to death with GPS systems and such, but

the basic answer is, you are responsible for the patient at the original

call. So call and advise dispatch of the second scene and proceed to your

original destination.

-joe

Medico-Legal Operational Question

>I thought this issue was pretty well settled twenty years ago when

> it was widely addressed nationwide at EMS conferences by the legal

> eagles, and most agencies adopted policies addressing it. However,

> recently I am hearing much disagreement over an old issue. Having

> been inactive for a few years, I'd like to hear the current

> operational consensus on the following scenario:

>

> You are dispatched to a medical emergency. Enroute, you roll up on

> an MVA where people are waving you down. Or else you witness the

> accident. Or you may even be involved. Either way, do you:

>

> A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent to the original

> patient.

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for other units to

> respond to the accident.

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

>

> I would like to know the opinions of the legal experts here. And I

> would like to hear what the WRITTEN POLICIES are of other agencies.

> And, if there are any articles or legal references applicable to the

> issue available, I would appreciate links or sources.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Rob

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I get caught up reading all the responses so I may be restating what has already

been stated. First, what ever you do make certain it is policy and since it is

policy make certain it is written. Second, make certain the policy is very

clear, even to the point of what-if it to death. Third, look at and be prepared

to handle the phone call from dispatch where a crew stops while on a transport

of a non-critical patient to render aid to several " babies " in the roadway and

they need help now......

A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent

> to the original patient.

The first call gets the first dispatched ambulance; tell the people at the

accident scene you are calling help for them

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for

> other units to respond to the accident. Yes

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

Not the best option, unless a closer unit cleared to the original dispatch

location....

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

There are many other variables, be prepared and even involve the crews for help

with the policy making end of it.....

salvador capuchino wrote:

Of course if the unit is invlved you have no choice

but to stay and send another unit to the original

call. If you come up on it and no one is seriously

hurt, i.e., a major accident, then call for another

unit to respond to that scene and advise the people on

scene that you have another unit enroute. I recently

witnessed one and asked for another unit to respond.

I have even stopped while on a transfer with a pt on

board because the 911 provider here sometimes takes a

while to respond.

Salvador Capuchino Jr

EMT-Paramedic/Volunteer FF

--- dustdevil31 wrote:

> I thought this issue was pretty well settled twenty

> years ago when

> it was widely addressed nationwide at EMS

> conferences by the legal

> eagles, and most agencies adopted policies

> addressing it. However,

> recently I am hearing much disagreement over an old

> issue. Having

> been inactive for a few years, I'd like to hear the

> current

> operational consensus on the following scenario:

>

> You are dispatched to a medical emergency. Enroute,

> you roll up on

> an MVA where people are waving you down. Or else

> you witness the

> accident. Or you may even be involved. Either way,

> do you:

>

> A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent

> to the original

> patient.

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for

> other units to

> respond to the accident.

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

>

> I would like to know the opinions of the legal

> experts here. And I

> would like to hear what the WRITTEN POLICIES are of

> other agencies.

> And, if there are any articles or legal references

> applicable to the

> issue available, I would appreciate links or

> sources.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Rob

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I get caught up reading all the responses so I may be restating what has already

been stated. First, what ever you do make certain it is policy and since it is

policy make certain it is written. Second, make certain the policy is very

clear, even to the point of what-if it to death. Third, look at and be prepared

to handle the phone call from dispatch where a crew stops while on a transport

of a non-critical patient to render aid to several " babies " in the roadway and

they need help now......

A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent

> to the original patient.

The first call gets the first dispatched ambulance; tell the people at the

accident scene you are calling help for them

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for

> other units to respond to the accident. Yes

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

Not the best option, unless a closer unit cleared to the original dispatch

location....

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

There are many other variables, be prepared and even involve the crews for help

with the policy making end of it.....

salvador capuchino wrote:

Of course if the unit is invlved you have no choice

but to stay and send another unit to the original

call. If you come up on it and no one is seriously

hurt, i.e., a major accident, then call for another

unit to respond to that scene and advise the people on

scene that you have another unit enroute. I recently

witnessed one and asked for another unit to respond.

I have even stopped while on a transfer with a pt on

board because the 911 provider here sometimes takes a

while to respond.

Salvador Capuchino Jr

EMT-Paramedic/Volunteer FF

--- dustdevil31 wrote:

> I thought this issue was pretty well settled twenty

> years ago when

> it was widely addressed nationwide at EMS

> conferences by the legal

> eagles, and most agencies adopted policies

> addressing it. However,

> recently I am hearing much disagreement over an old

> issue. Having

> been inactive for a few years, I'd like to hear the

> current

> operational consensus on the following scenario:

>

> You are dispatched to a medical emergency. Enroute,

> you roll up on

> an MVA where people are waving you down. Or else

> you witness the

> accident. Or you may even be involved. Either way,

> do you:

>

> A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent

> to the original

> patient.

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for

> other units to

> respond to the accident.

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

>

> I would like to know the opinions of the legal

> experts here. And I

> would like to hear what the WRITTEN POLICIES are of

> other agencies.

> And, if there are any articles or legal references

> applicable to the

> issue available, I would appreciate links or

> sources.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Rob

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I get caught up reading all the responses so I may be restating what has already

been stated. First, what ever you do make certain it is policy and since it is

policy make certain it is written. Second, make certain the policy is very

clear, even to the point of what-if it to death. Third, look at and be prepared

to handle the phone call from dispatch where a crew stops while on a transport

of a non-critical patient to render aid to several " babies " in the roadway and

they need help now......

A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent

> to the original patient.

The first call gets the first dispatched ambulance; tell the people at the

accident scene you are calling help for them

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for

> other units to respond to the accident. Yes

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

Not the best option, unless a closer unit cleared to the original dispatch

location....

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

There are many other variables, be prepared and even involve the crews for help

with the policy making end of it.....

salvador capuchino wrote:

Of course if the unit is invlved you have no choice

but to stay and send another unit to the original

call. If you come up on it and no one is seriously

hurt, i.e., a major accident, then call for another

unit to respond to that scene and advise the people on

scene that you have another unit enroute. I recently

witnessed one and asked for another unit to respond.

I have even stopped while on a transfer with a pt on

board because the 911 provider here sometimes takes a

while to respond.

Salvador Capuchino Jr

EMT-Paramedic/Volunteer FF

--- dustdevil31 wrote:

> I thought this issue was pretty well settled twenty

> years ago when

> it was widely addressed nationwide at EMS

> conferences by the legal

> eagles, and most agencies adopted policies

> addressing it. However,

> recently I am hearing much disagreement over an old

> issue. Having

> been inactive for a few years, I'd like to hear the

> current

> operational consensus on the following scenario:

>

> You are dispatched to a medical emergency. Enroute,

> you roll up on

> an MVA where people are waving you down. Or else

> you witness the

> accident. Or you may even be involved. Either way,

> do you:

>

> A. Stop at the accident and have another unit sent

> to the original

> patient.

>

> B. Proceed to the original patient and call for

> other units to

> respond to the accident.

>

> C. Let the dispatcher decide for you.

>

> D. Other - Please specify.

>

> I would like to know the opinions of the legal

> experts here. And I

> would like to hear what the WRITTEN POLICIES are of

> other agencies.

> And, if there are any articles or legal references

> applicable to the

> issue available, I would appreciate links or

> sources.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Rob

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>