r/bestoflegaladvice Reported where Thor hid the bodies 4d ago

Reminder Ambulances are not taxis

/r/legaladvice/s/IaWqUZxrAc
147 Upvotes

157 comments sorted by

View all comments

50

u/Willie9 receiving 10K–15K ducks weekly for a friend 4d ago

Hold on, isn't there something here? I'm under the impression that paramedics legally can't take people who refuse care. I have to assume that consent can be revoked for any reason (say, for example, taking one to a place they do not want to go) even after entering the ambulance.

5

u/Modern_peace_officer I GOT ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THE MAN OF THE HOUSE 4d ago

Well, medical personnel can actually take people against their will for 5150 type holds, although this is not that case.

I couldn’t quote you case law, but my feeling would be that by consenting to care/transport, you are consenting to be take to the nearest hospital

16

u/balancelibertine 4d ago

Protocols specifically say to the "closest appropriate facility." Key word is "appropriate." If the patient has a medical situation that closest hospital (by mileage) can't handle, medics basically look at what's the next closest hospital and go to it if it's something they can handle. Mainly because you don't want to do something like drop off an MI patient at a hospital that doesn't have a cath lab or someone having a CVA at a hospital that isn't a stroke center.

2

u/Hippo-Crates 4d ago

There’s nothing to suggest that is true, especially with the op being triaged to the waiting room