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Basic Legal Duties of an Emergency Medical Technician

Being an emergency medical technician is a challenging and rewarding career that carries with it awesome responsibilities. You have been entrusted with the lives of those in the community you serve. With each level of certification, the responsibilities become more demanding because your skills have increased. These responsibilities are spelled out in your state statutes, by the federal government and your local protocols. There is nothing basic about your duties or responsibilities as an EMT.

  1. Scope of Practice

    • An EMT taking blood pressure.

      Medical, legal and ethical issues are vital elements of the EMT's daily life. It is so vital that it is usually the first major topic covered in all EMT classes. An EMT's scope of practice is defined in his state's legal and administrative code. The scope of practice spells out each skill an EMT is permitted to perform. This is done for each level of certification: basic, intermediate, or paramedic. An EMT is not permitted to practice above his skill level.

    Standard of Care

    • Err on the side of your patient.

      The standard of care relates to the EMT-patient relationship. Did the EMT render care in good faith? The way this is determined is to compare the actions of the EMT in question to that of another EMT to determine if the actions performed "conform with the reasonable level of skill, prudence, caution, and competence that could be expected under the circumstances." This will be determined in a court of law with whatever evidence is presented to the court.

    Duty to Act

    • Ambulance and crew responding to an emergency.

      Being a certified EMT, you have a legal duty to act --- that is, to perform your job. Failure to do so may bring a charge of negligence against you. But where the law is concerned, it is never that simple. To say that an EMT has a duty whenever he's needed is more a matter of morality and ethics than law. But it may be wise to treat morals and ethics as law. Duty can be very relative and dynamic. The only time the question of duty will be addressed is when you don't do it. If a court decides you had a duty and did not act, the consequences could be severe --- and certainly not pleasant.

    Expert Opinion

    • Patient care should be a priority.

      The National Association of EMTs, NAEMT, has published on its website the "EMT Oath" and the "Code of Ethics." When you read these two documents, the role of an EMT is clear: to render aide to the sick and injuried whenever the need arises. Again, if you must err, err on the side of your patient. It is very difficult for someone to find fault if you had your patients' best interest in mind when you acted. Remember, you are there for your patient.

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