Ethical Debate - Would you rat on your partner?

[ChristieS]

I am doing some research for a paper to be written for my EMT-A program.
The question posed is,

"If your partner were to act in a manner that jeopardized your patient, would you rat him/her out?"

I am hoping to get different opinions and ideas, so I can generalize the information and use it to write the paper.

Thank you!

[RugbyCanada]

I am doing some research for a paper to be written for my EMT-A program.
The question posed is,

"If your partner were to act in a manner that jeopardized your patient, would you rat him/her out?"

I am hoping to get different opinions and ideas, so I can generalize the information and use it to write the paper.

Thank you!

Depending on what he/she did, I would talk about it with them at the time. If it was something that was wantonnly and purposefully done, that could have catostrophic results, I would do my best to prevent the partner from acting any further, and call/go to my immediate supervisor for advice IMMEDIATELY.

To knowingly allow an individual to possible permantly harm a civillian, or perhaps cause harm to me or another FF in the future, would be a failure of my trust to the citizens, and the profession.

Cheers,

RC

[FLASHOVER05]

I have heard this one many times... I knew a former Paramedic that allegedly stole from many patients, he later took a package for early retirement, later his partner was suspended (With pay mind you) for stealing.... coincidence?????

[dentedhead]

I have heard this one many times... I knew a former Paramedic that allegedly stole from many patients, he later took a package for early retirement, later his partner was suspended (With pay mind you) for stealing.... coincidence?????

It has happened a few times in the past money, pts meds articles of value from residences.There is no early retirement or suspended with pay you are sent off with a boot in the ass and no chance of obtaining another bond.

A MTP copper was also caught doing this with drunks.They brought a guy in from another dept to play a drunk in his division.The dick went for it and lost over twenty years pension.

Dentedhead

[dentedhead]

I am doing some research for a paper to be written for my EMT-A program.
The question posed is,

"If your partner were to act in a manner that jeopardized your patient, would you rat him/her out?"

I am hoping to get different opinions and ideas, so I can generalize the information and use it to write the paper.

Thank you!

Like many other situations ther are lots of whatifs.

Scenario #1

A partner you have worked with for say 5 or more years,someone you generally get along with enjoy working with and may see off the job socially.But..... there is always a big but his/her pt care is suspect at best.Maybe they make up vitals rather than say they cant get a p,BP,or are not sure what they are hearing when listening to a chest.You have to double check their dosing or remind them about certain things.I had a partner like this we had serious words more than once about this .He would always TRY to do the right thing and would ask if he wasnt sure.In this case no I would not report him unless it was malicious,illegal or immoral I have a loose sense of what is moral but in this situation its pretty narrow when you are trusted with someone who cant fend for themselves.

Scenario# 2

You are working with someone who is known to be difficult to work with.Arrogant know it all dosent play well with others.It would depend on how serious the infraction was. Cuffing a mouthy aggressive drunk nope,being inappropriate with a pt, serious med error without documentation or something that may drag me down.I would book the car out of service and request a supervisor meet us and I would report it right in front of him/her.

Scenario #3

Working with a known serial killer.Who also has a pantfull of woes off the job usually accompanied with the requisite drinking problems.I would flat out refuse to work with him.Thus avoiding any problems.

There are all kinds of scenarios that can be cited.These three are all real examples that I had encountered during my time in EMS.

Dentedhead

[cjport]

All excellent answers, i just wanted to add my two cents. I think the question really boils down to 1) Integrity 2) Lying

Integrity is a characteristic that takes a career to gain and minutes to lose. As far as lying goes if this was an interview question theres no way you'd admitt to covering anything up.
The truth is though, we all let small things go. If its critcal to patient/co-worker safety not only would you have to report it, wouldn't you want too?

Just my thoughts!

[FLASHOVER05]

It has happened a few times in the past money, pts meds articles of value from residences.There is no early retirement or suspended with pay you are sent off with a boot in the ass and no chance of obtaining another bond.

A MTP copper was also caught doing this with drunks.They brought a guy in from another dept to play a drunk in his division.The dick went for it and lost over twenty years pension.

Dentedhead

A Friend of mine graduating through one of the local Paramedic Programs (I won't mention the school) had an instructor in his Ethics class booted from his department for peddling some ACP meds.....

Oh the Irony!

[ChristieS]

Thanks for the posts. All interesting angles, and much food for thought. Would love to get some more opinions, so post away!

[colin911]

Would obviously depend on the severity ... (and yes, it's quite subjective) ... I would try to talk with the offending party on a one-to-one basis first. After that, if similar incidents occured, I would be forced to make the captain aware of what was going on (if he didn't know already) ... from there, it's up to the captain what sort of discipline is warranted.

For the most part, I wouldn't want to be associated with anyone that makes questionable decisions regarding patient care ... that's only going to catch up with them, and perhaps myself.

[Fire1422]

1st Offense: We all make mistakes...
2nd Offense: "Don't let it happen again"...
3rd Offense: Strike 3...go one up!

[northernmedic]

We have a peer based SOCC (Standards of Care Committee) that can deal with issues in a one to one constructive manner rather than having to necessarily "rat out" to management. This is more for pt care related things. Depending on the severity such as overt criminal activity or gross negligence it may have to go to a higher level (i.e. licensing board, management or even police).

[JrFFHopeful308]

If they accidentally did something small wrong once and admitted it, I wouldn't see that as a big deal. If they were to do something illegal (stealing for instance) or were to be knowingly or unknowingly negligent (totally messing up a drug dosage) to the point of possibly harming the patient, I would have to tell someone higher up about it.

Do I want to keep a friend (the other medic) or keep standards of patient care up where they should be? Obviously, if I'm the unconcious person the FD cut out of a wreck, I don't want to wake up in the hospital the next day and find out I don't have any cash left in my wallet! Neither do I want to have an anaphalatic reaction because the paramedic didn't see my clearly marked and located MedicAlert bracelet stating I am allergic to ****drug (O.K. that's probably a little far fetched, but you can probably tell what I mean).

I begin to lose my temper a bit when I see someone treating something or someone else badly. We expect anyone in the medical profession to know what they're doing. If they don't know, or don't care, maybe they need to find another job. (like at Mickey-D's!)