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Can you call an ambulance for somebody without their consent?

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Replies

  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    I mean, you CAN, but then they get stuck paying for the ambulance. It's about two grand where I live.
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    Was there a reason why no-one called the police to report the incident, though (even if the alleged driver was sorry and stayed to help)? Isn't that the right thing to do?
    (I witnessed a car accident once and called 911 before I could even get out of my car to see if the lady was ok (her car tipped over/low speed/stuff from inside her car was all over the road... the lady was super scared, but unharmed).
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,426 Member
    Pretty sure someone should have called 911 to report the accident. The driver probably should have stayed put until police arrived to take a report and deal with it.
    A person can refuse treatment or refuse to be transported in the ambulance if they are conscious and aware. Just because you call doesn't mean they have to get in.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    Pretty sure someone should have called 911 to report the accident. The driver probably should have stayed put until police arrived to take a report and deal with it.
    A person can refuse treatment or refuse to be transported in the ambulance if they are conscious and aware. Just because you call doesn't mean they have to get in.

    Agreed. Where I live, if you don't get transported, you don't pay anything for the ambulance.
  • skymningen
    skymningen Posts: 532 Member
    edited October 2017
    I am not a lawyer so I can't reproduce the actual law, but here (in Germany), you are actually "per definition" not liable for anything you do in good will of help as a first responder. Because otherwise people would be scared to do CPR (it might fail, the patient might get broken ribs) or help people which are confused or intoxicated. This means you can (and should) always call an ambulance unless you are 100% sure it is not needed. No matter what the patient says (they might be in shock, confused, intoxicated or in other ways not of good judgement of their own health).
    I am sure other countries should have similar laws.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    It's the law here that you must call the police if a pedestrian is struck.

    You can call an ambulance and if the patient has been unconscious for even one second, the hospital can detain them without their permission on the grounds that they are not in their right mind and capable of making decisions. If they have not been unconscious they can refuse care.

    Something to remember if you are ever in this situation and DON'T feel like spending the night in the hospital - never admit you were unconscious, or say you aren't sure whether or not you were unconscious.
  • EatingAndKnitting
    EatingAndKnitting Posts: 531 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    It's the law here that you must call the police if a pedestrian is struck.

    You can call an ambulance and if the patient has been unconscious for even one second, the hospital can detain them without their permission on the grounds that they are not in their right mind and capable of making decisions. If they have not been unconscious they can refuse care.

    Something to remember if you are ever in this situation and DON'T feel like spending the night in the hospital - never admit you were unconscious, or say you aren't sure whether or not you were unconscious.

    I'm not sure where you are, but here in Texas I developed lactic acidosis from my metformin, and spent two days in the hospital. I made the mistake of saying I felt like I might pass out earlier that day when I felt unwell. I was never ever in any danger of actually passing out or falling, but they took my random comment very very seriously. For two days I had to be escorted to the bathroom every time I needed to get up.

    And the treatment for lactic acidosis is running a *kitten*load of fluids through you. So I had to go a lot. Those poor nurses.

    Always be careful what you say in a hospital.
  • YvetteK2015
    YvetteK2015 Posts: 653 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    YvetteK2015 wrote: »
    No, you don't need his permission. Once on the scene, the patient can refuse the trip to the hospital, and if the EMTs feel comfortable releasing him, they will. He doesn't have to pay for the ride to the hospital. But they might find evidence of trauma that a lay person can't tell, so they are the best people to evaluate and make that call. So if something like that happens, no, you don't need permission. Call.

    Not sure where you live but where I'm from there is a pretty hefty fee for a ride in an ambulance. The injured person may not have to pay, but someone will.

    Sorry, the way I stated it made it sound as if I was saying that people don't need to pay for the ambulance ride. What I was trying to say was that you don't need permission to call. Once on the scene, the person can refuse the transport, thus not having to pay for the ride. However, it may not be prudent to turn down that transport, especially if you have just been hit by a car.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
    UK here too. I have my issues with the NHS and the way it treats people with thyroid issues but when it comes to accidents and emergencies, there is no service better. As a driver I know heaven forbid I were to cause a pedestrian to need an ambulance I would be required to pay for the call out. That is a small price to pay for knowing the person would be taken care of without any cost to them. May be it helps some of us drive more carefully and be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,970 Member
    Scubdup wrote: »
    I know a lot of you Americans consider our NHS here in the UK a commie abomination, but the thought of calling an ambulance being a tough moral decision is almost incomprehensible to me. It sounds like that guy was lucky you were there. Well done.

    To be fair, the reason I didn't want to call without his permission was that he was confused and frightened and wanted to get out of there in a hurry. Waiting in the cold rain in a place where he had just been injured and which must have felt very hostile was obviously causing him destress. As an unrelated bystander who was just going to the gym to swim laps, I wasn't sure how to balance respect for his wishes, and the idea that he needs medical attention. That's why I asked, now I know.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,970 Member
    CTcutie wrote: »
    Was there a reason why no-one called the police to report the incident, though (even if the alleged driver was sorry and stayed to help)? Isn't that the right thing to do?
    (I witnessed a car accident once and called 911 before I could even get out of my car to see if the lady was ok (her car tipped over/low speed/stuff from inside her car was all over the road... the lady was super scared, but unharmed).

    I can only speak for myself. I heard and saw a person's life get ruined. I was scrambling, trying to figure out what to do. The guy had a broken leg before he got hit, he couldn't get up without help, and wanted to be out of harm's way.

    I was hit by a car a few years ago, and this triggered my PTSD. It was a horrific, panicked situation. I didn't think to call the police, or to move my car.

    Probably the hospital calls the police automatically when this happens.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    911 here goes to whichever city's police dispatch - they summon the ambulance of whatever is closest, if it sounds like it might be needed, along with police of course.
    Sometimes even a fire truck - which was called out for my bike accident for some reason - perhaps they thought I'd be push into the car and need jaws of life or something.
    EMT looked me over and decided good enough to refuse hospital. Police made up report and ticket for lady, and gave me and poor mangled bike a ride back home. I don't recall seeing bill for EMT, perhaps that much considered public service. Perhaps it went straight to car insurance, and they passed on to other driver's insurance.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,344 Member
    heybales wrote: »
    911 here goes to whichever city's police dispatch - they summon the ambulance of whatever is closest, if it sounds like it might be needed, along with police of course.
    Sometimes even a fire truck - which was called out for my bike accident for some reason - perhaps they thought I'd be push into the car and need jaws of life or something.
    EMT looked me over and decided good enough to refuse hospital. Police made up report and ticket for lady, and gave me and poor mangled bike a ride back home. I don't recall seeing bill for EMT, perhaps that much considered public service. Perhaps it went straight to car insurance, and they passed on to other driver's insurance.

    Depends on the jurisdiction and levels of training, but in many places fire departments are staffed with EMTs/paramedics, so they roll on any reported injury accident (either medics on board an engine or sometimes a specific medic rig, depending on the department). They'll triage/treat at the scene, an ambulance will be called if needed for transport.

    A victim can decline treatment and/or transport - the medics will have them sign an "AMA waiver" (stands for "Against Medical Advice", meaning you've been told you should go to the hospital for medical care and are assuming your own liability by refusing to do so) and send them on their way. If you're conscious and capable to any extent of making a rational decision, you can't be transported against your will no matter how badly injured you are. A medic who forcibly transported you against your will could (theoretically) be charged with kidnapping and/or false imprisonment, and that's not a road they want to go down.

    As to the OP - you can (and should) dial 911/notify first responders any time you come upon an injury situation. You're not making a decision as to what care will be given or whether they will be transported - you're just getting qualified assistance to the scene so they can render aid and make that assessment. You're under no obligation to obtain permission from the injured party (or anybody else) to make that call.
  • GettinFitInMN
    GettinFitInMN Posts: 24 Member
    In a case with a person injured, please call 911. They are professionals and know what to do. People involved don't think clearly as they may be in shock (which happened to my dad once). Then afterwards in their right mind they do second guess themselves. At least the EMTs can check them out (often it's the fire dept paramedics). They inform the person of their options. They can either find a ride or take transport (which is usually a fee). They won't force you to take it. At least then you then leave it up to the professionals. Again, you aren't charged for medics unless you take the ambulance.

    Side story: my mom was transported by ambulance from the casino by the casino fire dept medics and the casino never charged her for the ride to the hospital. Probably something they do for customers which was very nice of them. :smile:
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Twice I had a woman faint in the store I worked at. Yes, both times we called 911. One refused to go to the hospital and waited for her husband to come pick her up and the other did go in the ambulance (both were pregnant, BTW).
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Always call. The person can always refuse treatment or find some way to pay the bill (or just get it written off) but they can't be brought back from the dead.

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