Ethics Issue- Patient Instructions

In some states, state law allows EMTs to do what is right for the patient when transporting them for care. In other states, the law may say that EMTs must obey the patient's instructions, regardless of what those instructions are.

As an EMT in a state where the law says you must do what is right for the patient, you are transporting a patient with chest pain, and you decide to transport her to a hospital with heart catheterization capabilities, ever though the patient has expressed a desire to go to a less well-equipped hospital in the area.

• Legally and ethically, how will you respond? Defend your answer.