Patients Refusal of Care and Transport

[RoboEMT]

I am wondering what are the refusals like in states other than NewJersey and what are the legal opinions on these refusal.
Any info would be helpful. Thank-you.

[9m18]

In NH, we have a statewide "blue sheet" that gets filled out for each medical call. On the back, it has a form for a signoff, with space for a witness to sign, etc. We also carry pre-printed "patient data cards" where we can fill out vitals, meds, etc., but it also has a form for a signoff.
The biggest problem I run into is that in NH, a kid can get a driver's license at 16. But he/she can't legally signoff until they are 18 (it's a contract, must be 18). It's a problem with a regional high school in our town. Lots of fender-benders, then waiting around til a parent comes from 30 minutes away to sign the kid off. Sometimes it takes much longer if mom or dad isn't right there to answer the phone.
To my knowlege, we've never had someone challenge the legality/validity of the signoff.
Take care.

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[emti82]

In NH the "Blue Form" is a great start, but it does not stand alone as a refusal. Attendants MUST fill out the front narrative portion to include things such as LOC, Vitals, reason for refusal and any information that you feel pertinent. I have trained our staff, that if they feel that someone will die if they do not go to the hospital than they should write that. It is always good to read that portion and have them sign that also.

[Ohiofiremed57]

Hey 9m,
Does your service Tx? Or are you an AMA service... If you are running into the problem of Juvenile AMA's. Such as excessive ETA's of the parents. A little advice... If it's going to take longer for the parents to arrive,then it takes to Tx. Tx the Pt!!! What's the hold-up... Let the ED triage the pt.

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The few, the proud, the INSANE!

[MadMedic40]

If any of you have copies of negative transport forms that you use in your services please forward them to me! My company is attempting to address this issue and we are interested in knowing how other services deal with this issue!

[responder252]

i feel that as ems responders we have a moral and ethical responsibility to convince that patient to go to the hospital. because we can only assess so much. things have a tendency to get worse because we cannot diagnose a patient. it really bothers me when a patient refuses transport because if something happens after we leave myself personnally it really really hurts because we really can't do anything about it after we leave the scene with that refusal in hand.
keep it safe and god bless

responder252
templeton rescue