Legal Liabilities in Emergency Medical Service » (New Edition)

Schneid, Thomas D., PhD, JD

Time was, no one would even think about suing the people who provided emergency help, but times being what they are now, Schneid (loss prevention and safety, Eastern Kentucky U.) thinks emergency medical professionals and organizations should be aware of the legal issues they face on every call. Proactive thinking and planning, he says, can help avoid or minimize the potential risk of legal entanglements and litigation.

Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Manuel Garcia Chavez, EMS(Houston Fire Department )
Description:This convenient, easy to read reference book provides EMS/fire service providers an outline of some of the laws that may effect its members or organization. It provides government standards, employee rights, tort language, and a myriad of scenarios relating to the EMS field.
Purpose:The author's purpose is twofold. First, to sound the alarm to the vast legal issues facing public servants and, second, to make us more aware and vigilant to the fact that laws are not stagnant but constantly changing. He has accomplished both goals and more. This book should be required reading for every public servant.
Audience:The book is written for the EMS/fire professional, both practitioner and manager. The author has accomplished what many in the EMS field have been looking for, an easy to read, well organized legal rights outline. Backed by his knowledge and experience in the field of law and safety in EMS, the author is right on target.
Features:In today's litigious society, EMS providers should be well versed in the laws that govern their profession. The book provides the tools to help us accomplish just that. From the start the author breaks down how laws become laws and how they change. He also makes the book easy to understand by relating the laws to common EMS scenarios. He identifies the major laws that govern profession, from wage and hour to discrimination law. He even explains employment tort as well as compliance with government statutes.
Assessment:As a firefighter/paramedic and a union representative for our members, I found myself carrying this book with me on the unit as well as in hearings. It will become the reference book of choice at our union library. In the Houston fire department, the third largest in the U.S. with over 3,000 members, knowing the laws that effect us is a must. This book is the best road map to have.