Standard of Care Podcast

About Standard of Care Podcast

Back in EMT class there was one page in the textbook that covered legal issues in pre-hospital medicine. Our world is increasingly more complicated and as a result, one page just doesn't cover it anymore. In this podcast, Sam and Nick discuss important, relevant and modern aspects of EMS law that may have been overlooked in class.

Publisher

FlightBridgeED

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Nov 2020

Latest episode

5 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 31 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   5 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   CROSSOVER EPISODE: Legal Lessons for a Full Kart with EMS 20/20

   Host Chris and Nick interview Samantha and Spencer from EMS 20/20 about legal lessons learned during a simulated trauma call.

2. 

   10 Jan 2026

   No Defense for No Patient Found

   In this episode, Samantha and Nick examine a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a non-transport decision—a case that highlights how quickly routine calls can turn into high-stakes legal events. The discussion centers on the death of a 26-year-old man with type 1 diabetes and a seizure disorder who requested transport, was left at home, and was later found deceased. Using the language of the actual court complaint, the episode explores the legal concept of public trust in EMS and what happens when that trust is alleged to be broken. From a leadership and risk-management perspective, the episode dissects the duty to assess, document, and transport—or properly refuse. The hosts examine how documentation choices (“canceled – no patient found”), failure to contact medical control, and leaving a high-risk patient alone can dramatically shift the legal narrative. Particular attention is given to supervisory actions after the call, including how complaint handling, recorded phone conversations, and well-intentioned but poorly worded statements can unintentionally strengthen a plaintiff’s case. The conversation also breaks down the legal mechanics of the lawsuit itself, including wrongful death, survivorship, and loss of consortium claims, as well as why a seemingly multimillion-dollar case may settle for far less. Throughout the episode, the emphasis remains on defensible decision-making, understanding administrative and civil liability exposure, and how EMS professionals can protect both patients and their licenses by aligning clinical judgment with documentation and protocol. Key takeaways Non-transport decisions carry legal weight: Refusing or discouraging transport in high-risk patients invites scrutiny. Documentation is your primary defense: “Canceled – no patient found” is nearly indefensible when patient contact occurred. Duty to assess does not end at the door: Seizure risk, diabetes, and being left alone matter legally and clinically. Medical control can help: Early physician involvement can shift responsibility and improve outcomes. Supervisors must handle complaints carefully: Poorly phrased responses can become admissions of fault. Assume you are being recorded: Phone calls, body cams, and bystanders can all end up in evidence. Do the right thing and write it down: Defensible care starts with sound clinical judgment and ends with accurate documentation.

3. 

   19 Oct 2025

   Illumination of the Envenomation Situation

   When a paramedic in Kentucky faced a dying patient and a vial of antivenom, he had to make a split-second decision that could save a life… or end his career. In this episode of The Standard of Care Podcast, hosts Samantha Johnson and Nick Adams unpack one of the most talked-about EMS legal stories of the year: a paramedic who administered a rare antivenom under physician direction, only to find himself facing potential loss of his license. They break down the legal and ethical dilemmas behind the scope of practice, the real-world limits of medical direction, and what administrative law really means for providers in the field. Whether you’re an advanced clinician, a medic early in your career, or just starting in EMS, this episode offers insights that can protect your license — and your patients. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! KEY TAKEAWAYS Scope vs. survival: Following the book may not always match the field reality — but understanding the limits of your practice can be the difference between being cleared and being called before the board. Medical direction matters: Acting under direct physician orders may protect you legally, but not always administratively — and that nuance can decide the fate of your license. Administrative law 101: The state board doesn’t have discretion to ignore complaints; every case gets investigated. Knowing this process is essential to defending your practice. Culture check: Heroic instincts can lead to dangerous freelancing. True professionalism lies in humility, documentation, and system adherence. Protect your license: When facing an investigation, don’t go it alone. Hire an attorney familiar with administrative law. You wouldn’t run a resuscitation solo — don’t handle your legal defense solo either. SHOWNOTES Givot, D. (2025, October 7). When Doing the Right Thing Breaks the Rules. EMS1. https://www.ems1.com/ems-protocols/when-doing-the-right-thing-breaks-the-rules (https://www.ems1.com/ems-protocols/when-doing-the-right-thing-breaks-the-rules) Hawkins, T. (2025, September 28). Facebook Comment. October 10, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.heilmann/posts/this-is-the-best-breakdown-i-have-seen-/10108839286161953/ (https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.heilmann/posts/this-is-the-best-breakdown-i-have-seen-/10108839286161953/) Abo, B. (2025). Venom / Toxinology. Venom / Toxinology & Wildlife. https://www.abo911.org/venom-toxinology (https://www.abo911.org/venom-toxinology) Williams, A. (2025, September 28). Expert Weighs in as Ky.. EMS Team Under Fire for Administering Antivenom. https://www.wkyt.com (https://www.wkyt.com/). https://www.wkyt.com/2025/09/28/expert-weighs-ky-ems-team-under-fire-administrating-anti-venom/ (https://www.wkyt.com/2025/09/28/expert-weighs-ky-ems-team-under-fire-administrating-anti-venom/)

Inside a recent episode

CROSSOVER EPISODE: Legal Lessons for a Full Kart with EMS 20/20

Published 5 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And again, you're also dealing with a public perception piece here because people are now recording you walking up in your uniform with your fancy stethoscope that does EKGs. So you have to be thoughtful about that. what the public is perceiving about you and your agency also. Right. So we have that. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

37 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

29 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

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