One of the rights of humans is healthcare. Only when physicians, Paramedical, and patients collaborate effectively can the healthcare system operate as intended. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to health, which is an integral aspect of the right to life as specified in the same article. It is the responsibility of those working in the medical field, such as Paramedical, to give healthcare to those in need. Every profession has set standards for ethics that members of that field must adhere to. Ethics is defined as a set of principles, behaviors, and relationships built on trust. The medical field is an honorable one. People believe in them just as much as they believe in God. Healthcare practitioners collaborate with patients and with one another in order to provide care. Paramedical working in the healthcare industry are required to adhere to certain ethical standards when carrying out their duties, such as maintaining patient confidentiality and taking appropriate care of patients. The Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Consumer Protection Act all impose liability on Paramedical who neglect their duty.
A collection of moral guidelines that must be adhered to is called ethics. It is a set of moral standards or a guiding ideology that comprises the moral precepts that dictate an individual’s behavior. Without law, it is impossible to envision a civilized society. Law serves to regulate society. Its goal is to keep the people and their belongings safe. Law is necessary for society if we are to live morally upright lives. The goal of both ethics and law is to help us live in a civilized society by defining what is right and wrong. Professional ethics are the unique set of rules that apply to each profession. These professional ethics are made up of rules that specify how a person in that profession should behave. It advises, or rather guides, the individual on how to behave in that line of work when interacting with coworkers and other institutions in that kind of setting.
Paramedical Ethics
Being the first to respond in any medical emergency, Paramedical play a crucial role in the medical community. Even in the face of trauma, they are trained to handle it. Thus, when acting in the capacity of Paramedical, they ought to uphold their professional ethics. The Greek word “ethos,” which meaning “way of living,” is where the word ethics originates. This area of philosophy focuses on how people behave in their communities and in their line of work. Ethics considers people and investigates what is morally good or bad, just or unfair. It is the relationship between a person and the natural world that is characterised by fairness and accountability. When someone chooses to pursue a certain career path, they must also adhere to a set of moral standards known as professional ethics. These standards instruct people on what actions are appropriate or inappropriate, as well as their responsibilities.
When there is a medical emergency, Paramedical respond to patients first, providing them with medical assistance. Paramedical are required to uphold ethical standards while doing their jobs, including respecting their patients, preventing injury, demonstrating empathy, acting honourably, and using their expertise to handle problems responsibly. It is essential to get the patient’s agreement before treating, testing, or transporting them, much like Paramedical do. One can gain consent in a number of ways, including written, implicit, and spoken. When a Paramedical treats a patient who is competent to give consent, it is assault if the Paramedical acts on that consent without getting it. Similarly, it may be illegal for a Paramedical to physically examine a patient without that patient’s consent, which could result in a battery lawsuit.
Consent is always presumed when emergency medical services are provided. This is predicated on the idea that a patient in such an emergency medical state would grant consent if they could communicate, but they are incapable of doing so owing to unconsciousness or another definable medical condition such serious illness or injuries. When it comes to minors, the legal guardians are typically parents or other responsible adults, such as principals of the schools, who grant consent.
Laws Concerning Paramedical Ethics
Legal obligations for Paramedical include those to the public, medical directors, employers, and patients. Like other health care providers, Paramedical have legal obligations as well as ethical ones that are based on widely accepted standards of medical care. These obligations were outlined in statutes and regulations.
- Sustaining proficiency in abilities
- Reporting truthfully
- Addressing each patient’s physical and emotional requirements with consideration
- Keeping secrecy
- Cooperating and showing consideration for other emergency response staff and medical professionals
- Evaluating oneself critically and making improvements to one’s performance
- The Paramedical-patient interaction is built on the foundation of caring for the patient.
- The Paramedical is a role model for moral conduct.
Paramedical play the role of healers, providing assistance to patients during their illnesses. As clinicians, they also help patients heal.As a Paramedical, you must diagnose patients’ problems, assist with appropriate treatment, and act as a patient, clinician, and advocate. You must also uphold and protect patients’ rights to healthcare. Thus, it is reasonable to say that Paramedical have difficult jobs.
Laws pertaining to ambulances and emergency services, the Controlled Substances Act of 1981, the Mental Health Act of 1986, and other Acts have an impact on Paramedical alike, as does case law.
The Central Councils Bill for Physiotherapy and Paramedicaline, 2007-The Central Council will be tasked with determining the standards for Paramedical education, training, research, professional conduct, and ethics, according to a Bill, 21 u/s 12 (2) (c). It further says that “each Central Council shall determine by regulations the standards of professional conduct and etiquette and a code of ethics for the practitioners.”
The Negligence of Paramedical and Their Obligations
The Indian Constitution’s Article 21 provides the right to life, which includes the right to adequate healthcare. The state is required by Article 21 to protect each person’s right to life. Therefore, protecting human life is extremely important.
Paramedical have a responsibility to provide excellent patient care, take the necessary actions to improve patients’ health, and exercise due diligence. They are accountable for negligence if they fail to carry out their responsibilities correctly. A person is considered negligent if they act carelessly and fail to consider the potential negative effects of their actions.
Negligence is defined as the failure to perform an action that a wise and reasonable man would perform, or the performance of an action that a reasonable man, guided by the principles that typically govern the conduct of human affairs, would not perform. Medical negligence can be defined as negligence in medical care on the part of physicians, Paramedical, or hospital administrators. If hospitals or nursing homes are involved, liability for negligence may be determined jointly, vicariously, or at the individual level.
An crucial component of the crime is negligence, and in order for the prosecution to prove negligence, it must be capable or egregious, not just based on a mistake in judgement.
Conclusion
The health care industry has a significant role to play when it comes to dealing with human health issues. Physicians and healthcare personnel are part of the healthcare sector. Therapists, technicians, and other ancillary personnel involved in medical care are considered health care workers. Using tools and drugs similar to those used in a hospital emergency room, they can assess, examine, and administer the patient’s first course of care. In order to handle any medical issue, a Paramedical needs to be composed, compassionate, truthful, and knowledgeable. Since Paramedical must act as healthcare providers or workers, they must adhere to certain medical ethics. It is their responsibility to show compassion, take good care of the patient, and protect patient privacy about any medical information. Both civil and criminal laws hold them accountable for their negligence if they fail to fulfil their obligations and violate professional ethics.