Mr Marty Nichols1
1NSW Health, Rozelle, Australia
The legal concept of reasonableness is vital for public sector health managers as it lays the foundation for responsible decision-making and actions. The reasonable person standard is a legal principle used to determine whether a person’s actions were appropriate in a specific situation. This standard is used in various areas of law, including administrative law, tort law, and employment law, as well as contract law.
In leadership decision-making, reasonableness means exercising care, skill, and diligence that a reasonable person would apply in a similar situation. This implies that public sector health managers should make decisions and take actions that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the same circumstances. As such, paramedicine managers are consistently encouraged to appreciate and understand the application of the reasonable person standard in their roles.
Paramedicine managers can benefit from appreciating the reasonable person standard through various examples, including administrative decision-making, disciplinary decision, ensuring all staff are adequately trained and credentialed, and mitigating risks to avoid accidents or injuries.
The application of the reasonable person standard in the public sector healthcare industry is a vital consideration for managers and clinicians alike. A clear understanding of this standard will aid in making appropriate decisions and conducting activities within reasonable expectations. This oral presentation will provide a succinct summary of the reasonableness principle in the context of practical examples.
Biography:
Marty is a Specialist Paramedic and Senior Manager with NSW Ambulance. Marty’s expertise and passion lie in critical and austere care.
Marty is also a registered nurse, a director for the Australasian College of Paramedicine, and a member of the Paramedicine Accreditation Committee.