Ch. 7 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Sonography

Question 1

True or false:
Sonographers are not responsible for any harm that a patient may suffer as a result of their actions

Answer 1

False.
Sonographers ARE responsible.

Question 2

What is the perpose of legal consequences?

Answer 2

Professional accountability

Question 3

What law is enforced by federal or state legislators, and uphold social order and protect the rights of individuals?

Answer 3

Statutory law

Question 4

What law is made by administrative agencies appointed by the president or governor?

Answer 4

Administrative law

Question 5

What law is court-made based on custom and usage?

Answer 5

Common law

Question 6

What is a wrongful act, other than a breach of contract, for which the law provides a remedy?

Answer 6

Tort

Question 7

Assult, battery, invasion of privacy, and false imprisonment are examples of what kind of tort?

Answer 7

Intentional tort

Question 8

Negligence is an example of kind of tort?

Answer 8

Unintentional tort

Question 9

What is it when a negligent act or omission by a medical professional results in harm to the patient?

Answer 9

Medical Malpractice

Question 10

What four elements does an injured patient (the plaintiff) must prove?

Answer 10

Duty, breach, harm, and causation

Question 11

True or false:
The burden of proof does not shift to the defendant.

Answer 11

False
It can shift to the defendant

Question 12

What is it called when the patient has the right to prevent unauthorized contact with his orher person?

Answer 12

Informed consent

Question 13

True or false:
The health care professional must disclose information that lets the patient make a knowledgeable decision about proposed procedures or treatments

Answer 13

True

Question 14

what are was to express consent?

Answer 14

Written or spoken

Question 15

True or False:
Consent is understood from the circumstances surrounding the procedure.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

What is a legal responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions?

Answer 16

Liability

Question 17

What are the 3 doctrines of liability for negligence?

Answer 17

-Master-servant
-Ostensible agency
-Res ipsa loquitur

Question 18

What are the two types of malpractice insurance?

Answer 18

Claims-made policy and occurrence policy

Question 19

How can you protect yourself against lawsuits?

Answer 19

-insist on written requests
-Do not perform any scans or procedures for which you have not been trained
-Determine if a chaperone should be present
-Ensure that the patient understands the procedure and why it is being performed
-Make sure that the equipment is adequate for the requested study

Question 20

What are alternatives to malpractice litigation?

Answer 20

Risk management programs, identifying risks, and documentation.

Question 21

What is it when a court document that requires a witness to appear and testify or to produce documents or papers pertinent to a pending controversy?

Answer 21

Subpoena

Question 22

What is an expert witness?

Answer 22

A witness that must be able to analyze the facts presented and draw inferences from those facts.

Question 23

What is a system of valued behaviors and beliefs that govern proper conduct and character to ensure protection of individuals’ rights?

Answer 23

Ethics

Question 24

What ethics grew out of the patient-physician relationship?

Answer 24

Medical ethics

Question 25

What are sonographers ethical responsibilities?

Answer 25

Communication, compassion and respect, unbiased treatment, patient privacy, patient safety, CE, and responsibilities to self, employees, profession and colleagues.

Question 26

What is a duty to promote good and to act in the best interest of the patient and society?

Answer 26

Beneficence

Question 27

What is the primary credo of the health professions: “Above all, do no harm.”?

Answer 27

Nonmaleficence

Question 28

What are the reasons for a selective termination for a multifetal pregnancy?

Answer 28

-Serious complications occur
-Serious anomalies are detected
-it will improve the outcome for the remaining embryos or fetuses.

Question 29

True or False:
Sonographers can attempt to dissuade, encourage, or punish their patients depending on the patient’s choices.

Answer 29

False
NEVER

Question 30

Why do sonographers provide images to patient in obstetric examinations?

Answer 30

-Enhances fetal bonding
-educates patients and family members
-uncreases the likelihood that the mother will follow her doctor’s parental advice
-Increases the patient’s acceptance of sonography

Question 31

Why wouldn’t sonographers provide images to patient?

Answer 31

-Extends scanning time
-Extends patient exposure
-Disrupts the sonographer’s concentration
-Resembles commercialization

Question 32

What cirumstances would personal diagnostic information not be confidential?

Answer 32

-Knowledge of contagious diseases
-Child abuse

Question 33

True or False:
Even after getting the proper education, sonographers are not required to get CE hours from authorized accrediting organizations.

Answer 33

False
Sonographers still need CE hours. 30 hours every 3 years.