There has been a serious car crash involving six cars. You are helping a patient out of a vehicle and it is apparent that he may die. The patient realizes that he is severely injured and hands you a document conveying “do no resuscitate” orders. What do you, as an Advanced EMT, do?
  1. Continue helping the patient, regardless of documentation
  2. Contact the medical direction physician
  3. Assume the patient is in an incapacitated state and keep helping
  4. All of the above
Explanation
Answer - B - If a patient in the field gives written “do not resuscitate” orders, an Advanced EMT needs to contact the medical direction physician. Any questions involving “do not resuscitate” or “living wills” that come up while in the field must be reported to the medical direction physician. Advanced EMTs do not have the legal authority and are not in the position to evaluate the validity of any such documentation handed over by a patient.
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