Ambulatory Details

In terms of contracts and documents, ambulatory refers to the ability for parties to edit or revise the document's terms. An incredibly common ambulatory document is a will. A person can change the terms of their will at any point during their lifetime. Treaties between nations can also be ambulatory. According to the United Nations, taking an ambulatory approach to treaties allows countries to consider changes in domestic law without having to renegotiate the entire treaty.

An ambulatory disposition is similar in that the judgment or decree is subject to change. If a testator—the person who makes a will—makes a judgment, or decision, they can always go back and amend or revoke their decision if they are still alive.

Example of Ambulatory

To better illustrate the meaning and use of ambulatory it would be best to examine international tax treaties (agreements). Conventions on double taxation decrease the incidence of double taxation, facilitate cooperation between the countries signing the agreement, and minimize economic evasion. They also finalize tax treaties between two countries and list rights and obligations under the public law of nations. Public law of nations, also called international law, is a series of generally accepted standards for international relations.

When two countries close an international tax agreement, the treaty itself becomes governed by international law and aims to benefit the contract members. The issue is whether or not terms in tax contracts are interpreted as ambulatory or static.

Under the static interpretation, the meaning of a rule is set in the treaty—there will be no change. On the other hand, the ambulatory interpretation means a country may reexamine the treaty if circumstances change.

Static vs. Ambulatory

A static interpretation only considers the disputes that took place before and during treaty negotiations, etc. On the contrary, the dynamic approach, also referred to as ambulatory or evolutionary, asks that countries also actively consider circumstances post treaty, document creation, etc.

Ambulatory vs. Ambulatory Care

Ambulatory in the legal sense refers to documents, statements, treaties, etc. Ambulatory care, on the other hand, has a home in the medical field.

When someone goes in for ambulatory care, doctors and surgeons assume that the patient will be ambulatory post-procedure. In other words, they can get up and move around; a doctor does not need to admit them to a hospital or other medical facility. We also call ambulatory care outpatient care.

Ambulatory vs. Ambulatory Medical Record

In the same field, an ambulatory medical record (AMR) documents all instances in which a patient did not need to be admitted to the hospital for a procedure. It is directly related to ambulatory care. Medical facilities keep this document as an electronic file. Along with regular electronic medical records, an AMR can help give medical personnel an accurate and thorough history of a patient's medical history. Unlike a regular ambulatory document, AMRs are not subject to change.