Legal duty to act begins in EMS when which occurs?

• A. Ambulance responds to a call
• B. Both ambulance responds to a call and treatment is initiated
• C. Treatment is initiated
• D. Neither

Answer: (B)

Duty to act starts once an EMS provider has assumed responsibility to care for a patient, which happens when you are on the scene and actively delivering care. The best answer reflects that both being dispatched/arriving and beginning treatment establish that duty. Simply responding to a call without starting care doesn’t create the obligation, and starting treatment without having assumed responsibility also wouldn’t by itself. Once you begin treatment, you’re obligated to continue care and see it through, including handoff to the next provider.