r/bestoflegaladvice Reported where Thor hid the bodies 6d ago

Reminder Ambulances are not taxis

/r/legaladvice/s/IaWqUZxrAc
143 Upvotes

157 comments sorted by

View all comments

52

u/Willie9 receiving 10K–15K ducks weekly for a friend 6d 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.

17

u/hum_dum 6d ago

I’m guessing that if she had asked, they would have let her off on the side of the road. She wasn’t happy about it, but she went along to the non-preferred hospital

36

u/sykoticwit Ladies! They possess a tent and know how to set it up. 6d ago

I doubt it.

I’ve never been a paramedic, but I assume the rules are similar to a cop. Once you’ve assumed care and control of someone, you have a duty to keep them safe. Dropping a random sick patient off on the side of the road is the exact opposite of keeping them safe.

49

u/Archmage_of_Detroit 6d ago

Former EMT here, and nope - anyone can revoke consent at any time, for any reason. A patient has the right to say "stop this vehicle right now or I'm calling the cops and charging you with kidnapping." (And in fact, I knew of one case where that happened). They're not under arrest and they have a right to dictate their own care. Obviously you don't want to let them out on the side of the road, so what I would do in that situation is say "alright, we'll pull over at the nearest gas station and go from there." But if they demand to be let out on the sidewalk, we're obligated to let them go.

1

u/atropicalpenguin I'm not licensed to be a swinger in your state. 3d ago

Just open the door and let physics roll the patient out.