Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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The appearance of a pregnant trauma patient is rare even in the busiest of trauma centers. Management of these cases can present difficult challenges. A successful outcome for both mother and child is dependent on an immediate team approach and response involving physician, nursing, and ancillary staff. ⋯ They should be cognizant of the fact that an apparently stable mother may be compensating at the expense of the fetus. Finally, the tenet of what benefits the mother will ultimately benefit the fetus should be adhered to. When these points are kept in mind, the potential for successful outcome and satisfying results is greatest for all parties involved.
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Emergency physicians are overwhelmed by the load of medical record documentation in the emergency department. This article reviews the important reasons for better documentation and today's increasing regulatory requirements in medical record documentation.
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This article presents an overview of several major legal issues in contemporary prehospital health care delivery and emergency medical services. It includes review and analysis of medical-legal issues in medical control; patient consent and treatment; modern emergency medical services communications; discussion of medical-legal concerns in regard to patient destination choice, diversion, and transfer; and an analysis of theories of recovery including a review of selected case histories.
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This article reviews medical-legal issues with regard to minors as they apply to the practice of emergency medicine. The topics of consent to treatment, refusal of care, child abuse, and medical malpractice are addressed. A working knowledge of these areas helps the emergency physician to avoid confusion, avoid delays in management, and maintain the safety of children.
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Clearly, a multitude of potential consent problems can exist for the emergency physician. It is difficult at times to balance the concepts of patient autonomy with the desire to provide optimal medical care. ⋯ Documentation of consent and refusal of treatment are critical for quality of patient care and legal liability reasons. Principles of what is good, "appropriate" legal consent usually follow from good medical care and strict concern for the patient's health and rights.