Negligence is defined as

Negligence is defined as

• A. Failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide
• B. Intentional harm
• C. Providing care beyond the scope of practice
• D. Violating patient confidentiality

Answer: (A)

Negligence in EMS is failing to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent EMT would provide in similar circumstances. It’s about meeting the expected level of care; when your actions (or inactions) fall short and harm or risk harm to the patient, that’s negligence. It’s not about intent to harm, which would be something like deliberate harm, nor about working outside your allowed scope or about breaching patient confidentiality, which are separate issues. The description that fits this definition is the one that talks about not providing the same level of care that a person with similar training would provide.

Negligence in EMS is failing to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent EMT would provide in similar circumstances. It’s about meeting the expected level of care; when your actions (or inactions) fall short and harm or risk harm to the patient, that’s negligence. It’s not about intent to harm, which would be something like deliberate harm, nor about working outside your allowed scope or about breaching patient confidentiality, which are separate issues. The description that fits this definition is the one that talks about not providing the same level of care that a person with similar training would provide.