Ethics Guidelines and Ethics Education for Emergency Medical Technicians: A Critical Analysis

In this thesis, I address an inadequacy in the chain of emergency medical care. Emergency physicians, nurses, and other staff have updated their ethical guidelines to address important new issues and technologies such as the confidentiality rules implemented under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (American College of Emergency Physicians, 2011; United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Code of Ethics, first adopted in 1978, however, has never been revised (National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, 1978). All health care providers, from physicians to nurses' aides, bear responsibility for the ethical treatment of their patients. Emphasis on proper ethics in the Emergency Department (ED) is important, but ethical treatment of the patient in the prehospital setting it is just as significant. This thesis reviews the history of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), describes the uniqueness of the professional practice of EMTs, evaluates the current NAEMT Code of Ethics, recommends revisions to those guidelines, and proposes improvements for the ethics education of EMTs during their certification programs.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Winston, Blake Daynes

• Bioethics

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/39022

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/39022