This document discusses the medical, legal, and ethical issues surrounding first aid. It outlines key principles for first aiders, including doing no further harm, obtaining consent when possible, using reasonable skill and care based on training, not abandoning patients, and maintaining confidentiality. It also describes good Samaritan laws which provide immunity for first aiders acting in good faith within the scope of their training. Maintaining accurate records is important both medically and legally. Throughout, the document emphasizes prioritizing patient safety, autonomy, and well-being.

1. Medical,
Legal,
and Ethical
Issues

2. INTRODUCTION
►A basic principle of emergency care is to do no
further harm.
►A health care provider usually avoids legal
exposure if he or she acts:
► In good faith
► According to an appropriate standard of care

3. FIRST AID
❖ No matter what the situation objectives of
first aid are:
❖ Preserve life
❖ Prevent injuries or illness from becoming
worse
❖ Promote recovery

4. WHO IS A FIRST AIDER
❖Anyone can be a first aider
❖A first aiders is simply someone who takes
charge of an emergency and gives first aid
❖First aiders do not diagnose or treat injuries
or illnesses. First aiders suspect injuries
and illnesses and give first aid

5. WHAT CAN A FIRST AIDER DO?
❖In emergency act calmly and reassure everyone
making experience less traumatic.
❖Besides giving first aid it is important to:
❖Protect casualties belongings
❖Keep unnecessary people away
❖Reassure family or friends
❖Clean up emergency scene and work to correct
unsafe conditions

6. FIRST AID AND THE LAW
❖If giving first aid is part of your job you
have a legal right to respond.
❖You have a duty to use reasonable skill
and care based on your level of
training.
❖Keep your certificates up to date

7. GOOD SAMARITAN PRINCIPLES
❖You are a good Samaritan if you help people
when you have no legal obligation to do so
❖You abide by these principles:
❖Identify yourself as first aider and get
permission to help- this is called consent
❖Use reasonable skill and care with level of
training
❖You are not negligent in what you do
❖You do not abandon the person

8. GOOD SAMARITAN PRINCIPLES CONTD’..
❖You are a good Samaritan if you help people when
you have no legal obligation to do so
❖You abide by these principles:
❖Identify yourself as first aider and get permission to
help- this is called consent
❖Use reasonable skill and care with level of training
❖You are not negligent in what you do
❖You do not abandon the person

9. CONSENT
❖Consent is permission to render care.
❖A person must give consent for
treatment.
❖If the patient is conscious and
rational, he or she has a legal right to
refuse care.

10. 1.CONSENT
❖Foundation of consent is decision-
making capacity.
❖Can understand information provided
❖Can make informed choice regarding
medical care
❖Patient autonomy is right of patient to
make decisions about his or her health.

11. ❖Patient acknowledges he or she wants you
to provide care or transport.
❖To be valid, patient must provide informed
consent.
❖You have explained treatment, risks, and
benefits to patient.
EXPRESSED CONSENT

12. IMPLIED CONSENT
Applies to patients who are
Unconscious
Otherwise incapable of making informed decision

13. IMPLIED CONSENT CONT’D..
❖Should never be used unless there is a
threat to life or limb.
❖Principle of implied consent is known as
the emergency doctrine.
❖Good to get consent from a spouse or
relative.

14. INVOLUNTARY CONSENT
Applies to patients who are:
❖Mentally ill
❖In behavioral crisis
❖Developmentally delayed
❖Obtain consent from guardian
❖Not always possible, so understand local
provisions

15. MINORS AND CONSENT
❖Parent or legal guardian gives consent.
❖In some countries, a minor can give
consent.
❖Depending on age and maturity
❖Emancipated minors (married, armed
services, parents)
❖Teachers and school officials may act in
place of parents.

16. MINORS AND CONSENT CONT’D..
❖If true emergency exists, and no consent is available:
❖Treat the patient.
❖Consent is implied

17. FORCIBLE RESTRAINT
❖Sometimes necessary with combative patient
❖Is legally permissible
❖But generally you must consult medical control for
authorization.
❖In some countries, only a law enforcement officer may
forcibly restrain

18. THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TREATMENT
❖Conscious, alert adults with decision-making
capacity:
❖Have the right to refuse treatment
❖Can withdraw from treatment at any time
❖Even if the result is death or serious injury
❖Places burden on the first aider to clarify need
for treatment

19. THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TREATMENT CONT’D..
❖Before you leave a scene where a patient,
parent, or caregiver has refused care:
❖Encourage them again to allow care.
❖Ask them to sign a refusal of care form.
❖Document all refusals.
❖A witness is valuable in these situations.

20. 2 .REASONABLE SKILL AND CARE
❖Give first aid with caution so you don’t aggravate
situation
❖Make sure you only try to do what you know you
can do
❖Make sure all your actions help the casualty in
some way

21. 3. NEGLIGENCE
❖Negligence presumes the first aider
knowingly acted against the casualty’s
wishes.
❖Ie. If the first aider intentionally risks the
life of the casualty may not be protected.
❖Simply give care as you would like to
receive it if you were in the same position

22. 4. ABANDONMENT
❖Never, never abandon a casualty in your
care. Once you start care, you do not leave
until:
❖You hand over to medical help
❖You hand over to another first aider
❖They no longer want your help

23. SAFETY AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
❖Number one rule in giving first aid is to “ensure safety”.
❖Take time to look for hazards- you don’t want to be a
casualty too.
3 basic types of risks to be aware of:
The energy source that caused the injury
Hazards from secondary or external factors
Hazards of the first aid procedures
❖Wear medical gloves, mask and eye care if possible
❖Minimize mouth-to-mouth contact
❖Frequently wash hands
❖Dispose of sharps with extreme care

24. CONFIDENTIALITY
❖Information should remain confidential.
❖Information generally cannot be disclosed
except:
❖If patient signs a release
❖If legal order is presented
❖If it is needed by billing personnel

25. GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS AND IMMUNITY
❖If you reasonably help another person, you
will not be held liable for error/omission
❖Good Samaritan actions to be met:
❖Good faith
❖Without expectation of compensation
❖Within scope of training
❖Did not act in grossly negligent manner

26. RECORDS AND REPORTS
❖Compile record for all incidents involving sick or injured
patients
❖Important safeguard against legal complications
❖Courts consider:
❖An action not recorded was not performed
❖Incomplete or untidy reports is evidence of poor
emergency medical care

27. ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
❖Requires you to evaluate and apply ethical
standards
❖Your own
❖Those of the profession
❖Be honest in reporting.
❖Keep accurate records.