Medical Ethics at an Accident

Medical Ethics at an Accident Scene In the following situation, I identify the paramedic's knowledge and education as the most morally relevant facts listed in Part 3 below. An off-duty paramedic comes upon an accident scene, and is the first there. He finds a male, approximately 50 years old, with an obvious head injury from hitting the windshield. A hematoma is developing on the man's head. The man is alert and refuses help from the paramedic, who leaves before other help arrives.

My argument that the paramedic has a moral and ethical duty to stay on the scene until other help arrived assumes that an individual with an understanding of accident scene stress and shock should not leave an obviously injured person. The man had an obvious injury that may have taken time to fully develop symptoms. My argument also assumes the victim was probably in shock after the accident, which can alter perception and understanding of what has happened.

In addition, my argument assumes that if the paramedic can see a hematoma is developing, the victim may have a severe enough head injury to affect his mental judgment. The patient seemed to be middle-aged or older, with an obvious head injury, indicated by the cracked windshield and the hematoma developing on his head. The car he was driving showed signs of a recent accident. The paramedic was off-duty, but stopped initially to assist, as he was the first on the scene.

There are no other paramedics or emergency personnel on the scene while the paramedic is there. The paramedic is the only person on the scene with an advanced knowledge of accident scene treatment. He is the only one who knows the effects of head injuries on a patient. He is the only one on the scene trained to deal with these kinds of emergencies. He chose to stop and respond, even though he was no longer on duty.

Ethically and morally, the paramedic's duty was to stay on the scene until other help arrived. This was an individual specifically trained in lifesaving techniques for accident and emergency victims, and he should not leave an obviously injured person. His training prepared him for just this situation, and since he was the first person on the scene, he could literally make the difference between life and death.

The accident victim with an obvious head injury could be suffering from shock, and the head injury symptoms might not show themselves immediately to the victim, or he might not understand what is happening, and what his symptoms indicate. The paramedic does, and should recognize the danger of leaving a head injury victim alone waiting for other help. There are those who might say that the paramedic had no duty to stop in the first place.

This is true, since he was off-duty, and not compelled to respond to the situation. However, he did respond, and therefore, that makes him morally and ethically responsible to stay with the man and monitor his condition until other help arrives. He chose to stop, and so, he should see the situation through to completion, rather than leaving because of the opinion of a patient.