Ch 3 Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues Flashcards

1
Q

Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient’s consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient.

A

abandonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or health care directive

A

advanced directive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cooling of the body after death until it matches the ambient temperature

A

algor mortis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct

A

applied ethics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm

A

assault

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Unlawfully touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent

A

battery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

the study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care

A

bioethics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

disclosure of information without proper authorization

A

breach of confidentiality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

damages awarded in a civil lawsuit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident

A

compensatory damages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Able to make rational decisions about personal well-being

A

competent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

permission to render care

A

consent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

a legal defense that may be raised when the defendant thinks that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff

A

contributory negligence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care

A

decision-making capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person’s reputation or standing in the community

A

defamation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Blood settling to the lowest point in the body, causing discoloration of the skin; a definitive sign of death

A

dependent lividity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath

A

depositions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The phase of a civil lawsuit where the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the attorneys to have a better understanding of the case and which will assist in negotiating a possible settlement or in preparing for trial. Includes depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of records.

A

discovery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel not to attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest

A

do not resuscitate (DNR) order

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

A type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf, in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity

A

durable power of attorney for health care

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

a medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care

A

duty to act

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

a person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult

A

emancipated minor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

a serious situation, such as injury or illness that threatens the life or welfare of a person or group of people and requires immediate intervention

A

emergency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

The principle of law that permits a health care provider to treat a patient in an emergency situation when the patient is incapable of granting consent because of altered level of consciousness, disability, the effects of drugs or alcohol, or the patient’s age

A

emergency doctrine

24
Q

immediate care or treatment

A

emergency medical care

25
Q

The philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior

A

ethics

26
Q

A type of consent in which a patient gives verbal or nonverbal authorization for provision of care or transport

A

expressed consent

27
Q

The confinement of a person without legal authority or the person’s consent

A

false imprisonment

28
Q

The act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action

A

forcible restraint

29
Q

Statutory provisions enacted by many states to protect citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good-faith emergency medical care, unless there is wanton, gross, or willful negligence

A

Good Samaritan laws

30
Q

Legal doctrine that can protect an EMS provider from being sued or that may limit the amount of the monetary judgement that the plaintiff may recover; generally applies only to EMS systems that are operated by municipalities or other government entities

A

governmental immunity

31
Q

Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care

A

gross negligence

32
Q

A written document that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient, should he or she become unable to make decisions. AKA an advanced directive or living will

A

health care directive

33
Q

A type of advanced directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity. AKA a durable power of attorney for health care

A

health care proxy

34
Q

Type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent in given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment

A

implied consent

35
Q

permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained

A

informed consent

36
Q

refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent

A

in loco parentis

37
Q

Written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one another

A

interrogatories

38
Q

The seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force, including transporting a competent adult for medical treatment without his or her consent

A

kidnapping

39
Q

False and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing

A

libel

40
Q

A term relating to medical jurisprudence (law) or forensic medicine

A

medicolegal

41
Q

A code of conduct that can be defined by society, religion, or a person, affecting character, conduct, and conscience

A

morality

42
Q

Failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide

A

negligence

43
Q

A theory that may be used when the conduct of the person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statute

A

negligence per se

44
Q

The right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care

A

patient autonomy

45
Q

Any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient’s medical record or payment history

A

protected health information (PHI)

46
Q

When a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual, the EMT, the agency, and/or the medical director may be sued for negligence

A

proximate causation

47
Q

Damages that are sometimes awarded in a civil lawsuit when the conduct of the defendant was intentional or constituted a reckless disregard for the safety of the public

A

punitive damages

48
Q

decomposition of body tissue; a definitive sign of death

A

putrefaction

49
Q

When the EMT or an EMS system is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred

A

res ipsa loquitur

50
Q

Stiffening of the body muscles; a definitive sign of death

A

rigor mortis

51
Q

Most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care that the EMT is able to provide for the patient

A

scope of practice

52
Q

False and damaging information about a person that is communicated by spoken word

A

slander

53
Q

Written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm

A

standard of care

54
Q

The time within which a case must be commenced

A

statute of limitations

55
Q

wrongful acts that give rise to a civil lawsuit

A

torts