1-A-1-e: Common Definitions Flashcards
What is malpractice?
A professional, such as a physician, unintentionally acts wrongfully, which causes injury to the patient.
What is a tort?
Wrongful acts that are intentional or unintentional.
What is battery?
Harmful, unjustifiable acts to or against another person.
What constitutes assault?
A threat of physical touch or harm.
What is negligence?
The medical professional’s failure to act or care for the patient, which leads to the patient’s injury.
Unintentional tort.
What is false imprisonment?
Confinement or restraint of the patient without the appropriate approval.
What is libel?
Written defamation of character.
Intentional tort.
What is slander?
Verbal defamation of character.
Intentional tort.
What is invasion of privacy?
A patient’s private information is shared with those who are not involved in the patient’s health care.
Violation of HIPAA.
What does respondeat superior mean?
“Let the master answer” - Employers are liable for the negligent acts of their employees.
What does res ipsa loquitur mean?
“The thing speaks for itself” - The health care worker involved in the negligent act is liable for himself/herself.
The health care worker must be able to explain what happened and prove that negligence did not occur.