Police Forcing Transport

[joshrunkle35]

Without a breathalyzer or blood alcohol testing how can we determine if someone is legally drunk? If the patient has had one drink, are they intoxicated? For some patients yes, others no. I can suspect intoxication but if the person is still alert and oriented and answering questions appropriately then I am not going to force treatment or transport on them.

Of course, but if the police are requesting you, there's obviously something about the person that makes it obvious that they are not in control of their mental faculties. Could it be CVA or DKA? Sure. Can they still sign a waiver to leave? Nope. If they aren't exhibiting impaired mental function why are the police calling you? If it was because they had evidence the person consumed too much alcohol, but didn't appear to be impaired, they'd be under arrest.

 

[Wheel]

Of course, but if the police are requesting you, there's obviously something about the person that makes it obvious that they are not in control of their mental faculties. Could it be CVA or DKA? Sure. Can they still sign a waiver to leave? Nope. If they aren't exhibiting impaired mental function why are the police calling you? If it was because they had evidence the person consumed too much alcohol, but didn't appear to be impaired, they'd be under arrest.

In an ideal world, this would be the case.

 

[DrParasite]

If the person is able to refuse care and is doing so why would you be held liable if something were to happen to them after your contact?

Either the police turn the person over to you and the individual refuses care:

or

The individual is in police custody and the officer leaves the individual with you.

not sure how either scenario would make me liable?

I'm sorry, but I think you are confused.... If the person refuses care (by action, signs the RMA, whatever), there is no liability issues outside of the normal RMA stuff. The issue I am speaking about is the person having a medical issue, while in police custody, and the cops transfer them to EMS, and EMS then says their is no patient. Then you end up pointing fingers with what happened after the cops gave the sick or injured person to EMS and documented as such, and then EMS has no record of this.

Now on the flip side. Police make contact with me, I am not under arrest, they request EMS for whatever reason. I refuse treatment and you refuse to accept that. Now who is going to be liable when I decide to sue?

again, I think you are confused. In fact, I think you just confused me, because I have no clue what you are talking about.

 

[TransportJockey]

Here is the section of our refusal I was talking about.