Sunday, November 6, 2011
Right to refuse medical/EMT treatment and transport?
I was waiting for a traffic light to change when a drunk driver plowed into my rear bumper, basically destroying both cars . I emerged without damage and provided first aid to the bleeding drunk. Someone must have called 911 because an ambulance arrived along with the police; I politely told the EMT's that I did not want any evaluation, treatment or transport. The economy has left me without health insurance despite a good job; I don't want to incur and medical expenses that I don't feel that I absolutely need (I understand that in an ideal world that everyone involved in a MVA would get checked out for hidden injuries, but it's my gamble to skip it). The EMT kept getting in my face and she was basically trying to force me into the ambulance despite my refusal. I told her that I was alert and oriented, a competent adult and that I'm refusing any and all evaluation, treatment or transport. She told me that I didn't have any choice and told me that if I didn't get in the ambulance that she would have the police officer convince me, all the while trying to push me into the ambulance. At wit's end, I called the cop over and asked her to explain to the EMT my right to refuse treatment..at which point I had 2 women trying to push me into the ambulance. Finally, the cop agreed that in this state (PA), a competent adult has a right to refuse treatment, but that I was being stupid (my choice) and that someone covered in blood should definately go to the hospital. Then one of the medics told the cop: "it's not his blood; he was treating the drunk who hit him from behind and probably prevented the guy from bleeding out". Big deal, I said, just please let me alone, I have a ight to refuse and didn't break any laws. Then the weird part: the cop agrees that I have a right to refuse, compliments me on isting the other driver, then she tells me that I'm going to the hospital regardless and called me a hero (not)...the other driver died, so my help didn't matter....despite my protests, they transported me anyway. En route to the hospital, I called the local police to meet me at the emergency room because I was being held against my will. Upon arrial at the hospital, the cops that I called got into an argument with the EMT's..I asked the police to either arrest me or to make the EMT's let me go. Finally, the EMT's told me that they would let me go if I signed a refusal of treatment and transport form which I declined to sign; I told them that you have already treated and transported me against my will so why should I sign a refusal of the same services? I told them that I'm not paying for anything; I didn't call them nor did I consent to anything. The EMT's got quite angry, but the cops at the ER affirmed my right to refuse and that I didn't have to sign anything, so everyone finally went to neutral corners. This was last night; it was an abuse of authority. Is there any way that I have to pay for any of this?
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