Acceptable limitations on paramedic duty to treat during disaster: A qualitative exploration
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
27457
Abstract
Introduction
The Australian prehospital profession has not yet facilitated a comprehensive discussion regarding paramedic role and responsibility during disasters. Whether paramedics have a duty to treat under extreme conditions and what acceptable limitations may be placed on such a duty require urgent consideration. The purpose of this research is to encourage discussion within the paramedic profession and broader community on this important ethical and legal issue. Methods
The authors employed qualitative methods to gather paramedic and community member perspectives in Victoria, Australia. Results
These findings suggested that both paramedic and community member participants agree that acceptable limitations on paramedic duty to treat during disaster are required. These limitations should be based on consideration of the following factors: personal health circumstances (eg, pregnancy for female paramedics); pre-existing mental health conditions (eg, posttraumatic stress disorder/PTSD); competing personal obligations (eg, paramedics who are single parents); and unacceptable levels of personal risk (eg, risk of exposure and infection during a pandemic).
Conclusion
It is only with the engagement of a more broadly representative segment of the prehospital profession and greater Australian community that appropriate guidance on limiting standards of care under extreme conditions can be developed and integrated within prehospital care in Australia.
DOI
10.1017/S1049023X18000857
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Smith, E., Burkle, F. M., Gebbie, K., Ford, D., & Bensimon, C. (2018). Acceptable limitations on paramedic duty to treat during disaster: a qualitative exploration. Prehospital and disaster medicine, 33(5). 466-470.
Available here.