ch3 (medical, legal, and ethical issues) Flashcards
decision-making capacity
the ability of a patient to understand the information you are providing
patient autonomy
the right of a patient to make decisions concerning his or her health
expressed consent
actual consent, when the patient says they want you to treat them
informed consent
you explained the nature of treatment and the risks of refusing treatment
implied consent
applies to patients who are unconscious or incapable of making na informed decision
abandonment
termination of care by the EMT without the patient’s consent or without transferring care
advance directive
written documentation that has specific medical treatment for a certain patient
algor mortis
cooling of the body after death until it matches the ambient temperature
applied ethics
principles of ethics that are incorporated into professional conduct
assault
unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm
battery
unlawfully touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent
bioethics
the study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care
breach of confidentiality
disclosure of information without proper authorization
compensatory damages
damages awarded in a civil lawsuit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that they are before the incident
competent
able to make rational decisions
consent
permission to render care
contributory negligence
a legal defense that may be raised when the defendant think that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff
defamation
communicating false info about a person that damages their reputation
dependent lividity
blood settling to the lowest point of the body, a definitive sign of death
depositions
oral questions asked of parties of witnesses under oath
discovery
when the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the attorneys to have a better understanding of the case
DNR order
written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel not to attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest
durable power of attorney for health care
an advanced directive executed by a competent adult that appoint another individual to make medical treatment decisions on their behalf
duty to act
personnel who have a responsibility to provide care
emancipated minor
a person who is under the legal age but is legally considered an adult
emergency
a serious situation that threatens life or welfare of a person and required immediate intervention
emergency doctrine
permits health care provider to treat a patient in an emergency situation when the patient is incapable of granting consent
emergency medical care
immediate care or treatment
ethics
the philosophy of right and wrong
false imprisonment
confinement of a person without legal authority or the person’s consent
forcible restraint
the act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action
Good Samaritan laws
protecting citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good-faith emergency medical care
governmental immunity
legal doctrine that can protect an EMS provider from being sued
gross negligence
conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care
health care directive
written document that specific medical treatment fro a competent patient if they are unable to make decisions
health care proxy
appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person loses decision-making capacity
in loco parentis
the legal responsibility fo a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of the parent
interrogatories
written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one another
kidnapping
carrying away of a person by force, including transferring a patient without his or her consent
libel
false and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing
medicolegal
medical jurisprudence or forensic medicine
morality
a code of conduct that can be defined by society addicting character conduct, and conscience
negligence
failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide
negligence per se
when the conduct of the person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statute
protected health information
any decision about health status that can be linked to an individual
proximate causation
when a person who has a duty abuses it and causes harm
punitive damages
damages that are sometimes awarded in a civil lawsuit
putrefaction
decomposition of body tissues; a definitive sign of death
res ipsa loquitur
when the EMT or EMS system is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred
rigor mortis
stiffening of the body muscles; a definitive sign of death
scope of practice
most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care that the EMT is able to provide the patient
slander
false and damaging information about a person that is communicated by spoken word
standard of care
written, accepted levels of emergency care
statute of limitations
the time in which a case must be commenced
torts
wrongful acts that give rise to a civil lawsuit
