The Ethics of Treating Patients in Pain

Discussion On the surface this call may appear to be a simple back strain or a potential drug seeker. There are multiple points to be considered. First, we should always consider our patients to be critical and let them prove us wrong. In other words, rather than seeing this patient as having just a back problem or seeking drugs, life-threatening conditions such as an abdominal aneurysm must be considered. A thorough evaluation should be completed to help determine the cause of the pain. When the exact cause of pain isn't identifiable in the prehospital setting, treatment should focus on symptoms. This patient doesn't have a problem with breathing or circulation. There are no obvious bleeds or deformities requiring stabilization. Treatment should now focus on patient comfort and pain control.
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Columns Patient Care Source Type: news