Legal Issues in Pediatric Transport

The field of pediatric medical transport presents a number of legal questions and challenges. Relevant laws and regulations come from a variety of federal, state, and local agencies. Medical liability arises when a duty to a patient is breached, causing damages. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires that a patient receives both a medical screening examination and stabilization of any emergency medical condition. The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act requires that protected health information is kept secure and only disclosed to authorized individuals. At the time of patient handoff during most transports, there are periods of shared responsibility. With constantly changing rules and regulations, it is important to have access to informed legal advice. Equally important is a commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate clinical care in a team-based environment with excellent documentation and communication.