Question

A patient states that he has suffered from chronic neck pain ever since an accident.​ Further, he states that he is filing a lawsuit against the EMTs since they failed to put a cervical collar on him at the​ time; in his​ eyes, this is the reason he has daily neck and back pain. The EMT can remember the incident well and remembers putting a collar on the patient. As​ such, his best defense would​ be:

A.Presentation of the standard of care showing that a cervical collar is indicated
B.Written documentation of collar placement on the PCR
C.Testimony from the supervisor stating that the EMTs always place a cervical collar
D.Presentation of the emergency department chart in court

Answer 1

The EMT's most effective legal defense against the claim of failing to place a cervical collar on a patient would be the written documentation on the patient care report, which serves as a legal record of the care provided at the time of the incident.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient who is filing a lawsuit against EMTs for not placing a cervical collar, which he believes led to his chronic neck pain, needs to be addressed legally with concrete evidence. The EMT's best defense in this case would likely be B. Written documentation of collar placement on the patient care report (PCR). This document is a legal record of the care provided and can show that the standard of care was followed. While testimony and department charts can be supportive, the PCR is the most direct piece of evidence regarding the actions taken by the EMT during the incident in question.

It is essential to note that factors such as spending hours looking down at hand-held devices and other muscular disorders can contribute to neck pain. However, in legal cases, it's the documentation of the incident and the actions taken that will be scrutinized. Thus, having written records is crucial for healthcare providers to defend against claims of malpractice or negligence.