Negligents at the rodeo

[Timmy]

Just a question in regards to being competent after a fall.

In Australia marking someone to be confident to make a medical based decision is a grey area, some services have mental status assessment, based upon this assessment and the paramedics ‘gut feelings’ they can force treatment on a patient with police intervention, this can include chemical or physical restraint if necessary.

Let me give you a situation. You are the ALS provider at the rodeo, one of the boys comes down pretty hard. Upon arrival it is clear that the patient is not able to make a decision because they have concussion, don’t know were they are but he is adamant to get back on the bull, all the bystanders tell you he’ll be fine and not to worry. The rider gets back on the bull and subsequent dies or becomes severely disabled from the injuries his received on the previous ride. Are you as the ALS provider negligent? You had the legal right to restrain the rider based on him not being component to make an informed medical based decision due to not being aware of his surrounding environment but let the situation get the better of you. Does the rider/his family have the right to sue the pants off you? I know this situation seems a little extreme but it is a very real possibility.

I find rodeo riders will come get treatment after their ride, when there out of the spotlight, some riders will get treatment based upon knowing you have pain meds ect. On a few occasions I have had riders tell me ‘please, just get me to hospital’ or anyone told me he didn’t feel right, and he was right, he had a spinal injury. He lying in the middle of the area on his back and told everyone not to touch him until we arrived. They know there own bodies, I trust that most will know when there seriously injured enough to ask for treatment.

As a BLS provider at rodeo I have no responsibility to force treatment upon you but ALS on the other hand is another kettle of fish, this is why they get paid some much to sit at the rodeo lol

[reaper]

Timmy, you are right. Anyone that does not know where they are at, is not competent to make decisions.

A few ways to make them see the light. Find the friend that is the most concerned about them, then send the rest away. Have this friend help you convince the pt that they need to be treated.

Explain to them that they can go willingly with your to be treated or you will inform the rodeo judge that they are not medicaly cleared to ride. This will keep them off, until they are cleared by a Dr.

If you try to bring LEO into the situation, you will make it worse and might cause a fight to break out. We don't like to be forced! :wink:

You need to be dam sure that they have an injury that warrents a ED visit. If you try these to much, it will backfire and you will get none of them to go.

You stated it exactly right. These guys know their bodies better then most people do. They will come to you, if they need it. I always go to them and ask if they need help or if they would allow me to check them out. If they say no, I back off and keep an eye on them. These guys will get the help they need.

Hell, I drove myself to the ED and walked in the front door and signed in with the triage nurse. I had a tib/fib fx of the left leg. They were broke clean. My leg would swing back and forth. The Dr. could not believe I walked in. It was no big deal. but I knew that I had to get it set and casted!