Ethics in Emergency Medical Services: A Contextual Analysis

Abstract

The modern concept of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has grown from its humble volunteerism origins to a multidisciplinary enterprise, outstretched into the realms of both healthcare and public service. As the American EMS community continues to assume greater responsibilities and further develop its professional standards, the moral foundations of this field open themselves to more thorough scrutiny. Upon examination, the major deficit in the ethical structuring of EMS becomes glaringly obvious: it exists as a piecemeal collection of its medical and militaristic counterparts unified by theoretical generalizations that avoid its inherently unique structure. If EMS wishes to matriculate into complete professionalism, or even continue its assumption of critical responsibilities surrounding the health and safety of others, then it must also develop and maintain its own individual ethical framework from which it operates. In doing so, an urban bioethical approach rooted in context-driven analysis and pragmatic solutions may provide the best guidance and protections for all those who interact with the EMS system while respecting the values of this distinctively prideful service.