Ethical considerations in emergency Medical services (EMS): understanding the significance of confidentiality (a scoping review)

• Main Author: Aung, Khin Thandar
• Format: Proceeding Paper
• Language: English; English; English; English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: RA Public aspects of medicine; RT Nursing; RT85 Nursing Ethics
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/110704/27/110704_Ethical%20considerations%20in%20emergency%20Medical%20services%20%28EMS%29_slides.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/110704/28/110704_Ethical%20considerations%20in%20emergency%20Medical%20services%20%28EMS%29_acceptance%20letter.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/110704/29/110704_Ethical%20considerations%20in%20emergency%20Medical%20services%20%28EMS%29_invitation%20letter.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/110704/30/110704_Ethical%20considerations%20in%20emergency%20Medical%20services%20%28EMS%29_abstract.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/110704/

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play a critical role in the healthcare system, providing immediate care to individuals in life-threatening situations. The ethical principle of confidentiality, a cornerstone of healthcare that extends to prehospital care settings. This scoping review seeks to explore the importance of confidentiality in EMS, its ethical implications, and the factors influencing its application. A scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search terms included “EMS,” “emergency medical services,” “confidentiality,” “ethics,” and “ethical considerations.” The inclusion criteria for this review were empirical studies, review articles, and ethical considerations in EMS and confidentiality-related guidelines. Exclusion criteria included studies that were not related to EMS and confidentiality as well as studies that did not address ethical considerations in EMS. The findings reveal that confidentiality in EMS is a multifaceted concept influenced by a variety of ethical, legal, and practical considerations. The review identified four key themes that shed light on the significance of confidentiality in EMS such as legal and ethical frameworks, patient privacy and dignity, trust and healthcare relationships and practical challenges in EMS settings. In summary, this scoping review underscores the critical role of confidentiality in EMS and the multifaceted nature of the ethical considerations involved. A better understanding of the significance of confidentiality in prehospital care can inform the development of guidelines, policies, and training programmes to enhance the ethical conduct of EMS providers. Further research is needed to explore specific challenges and strategies for upholding confidentiality in diverse EMS settings, ultimately ensuring the best possible care for patients while respecting their privacy and respect.