Final answer:
Implied consent allows an EMT to treat and transport an unresponsive adult patient because the situation implies the need for immediate medical attention and assumes the patient's consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The consent that allows an emergency medical technician (EMT) to treat and transport an unresponsive adult patient is known as implied consent. In emergency situations where a patient is not responsive and therefore cannot give expressed consent, the law assumes that the patient would want lifesaving treatment. This is known as implied consent, as the patient's situation implies a need for immediate medical attention, and any reasonable person would consent to emergency care in such circumstances.
In contrast, an advance directive is a legal document that communicates a patient's wishes regarding end-of-life care, including treatments they do or do not want to receive, such as a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. However, advance directives are not relevant in situations where implied consent is invoked since these directives are usually specific to not wanting certain life-saving treatments.