Having 20+ years working as an EMT (in a previous life), I will back this up 100%. The rule was always informed consent if patient was alert and oriented and we always explained what we were about to do even if the patient was only semi coherent. Children in critical need with no guardian available and anyone that was unconscious, we treated under implied consent (basically the assumption that if they were conscious, they would agree to the need for the treatment we were providing) but always with the need of the patient coming first and the need of the "system" coming latter.

Having 20+ years working as an EMT (in a previous life), I will back this up 100%. The rule was always informed consent if patient was alert and oriented and we always explained what we were about to do even if the patient was only semi coherent. Children in critical need with no guardian available and anyone that was unconscious, we treated under complied consent but always with the need of the patient coming first and the need of the "system" coming latter.