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Ethical Questions In Emergency Medical Services: Controversies And Recommendations, Torben K. Becker, Marianne Gausche-Hill, Andrew L. Aswegan, Eileen F. Baker, Kelly J. Bookman, Richard N. Bradley, Robert A. De Lorenzo, David J. Schoenwetter

Richard N Bradley

EMS providers face many ethical issues while providing prehospital care to children and adults. Although provider judgment plays a large role in the resolution of ethical questions at the scene, it is important to establish protocols and policies, when possible, to address these high risk and complex situations. This article describes some of the common situations with ethical underpinnings encountered by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and managers including denying or delaying transport of patients with non-emergency conditions, use of lights and sirens for patient transport, determination of medical futility in the field, termination of resuscitation, restriction of EMS provider …