Chapter 1 Key Terms Flashcards
Common law
law encompassing principles and rules based on ancient usages and customs
Consequentialism
an ethical school of thought in which decisions are based on the consequences or outcomes of a given act; the good of an activity is evaluated based on whether immediate harm is balanced with future benefits
Critical thinking (or teleology)
purposeful, self-regulatory judgment resulting in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference
Deontology
an ethical school of thought that bases decision making on individual motives and morals rather than consequences and examines the significance of actions themselves. Deontologic problem solving uses personal rules of right and wrong derived from individual actions, relationships of all kinds, and society
Ethics
the system or code of conduct and morals advocated by a particular individual or group
Judicial decisions
previous cases that either interpret statutes or adopt and adapt common law principles
Law
a body of rules of action or conduct prescribed by controlling authority and having binding legal force. Its basis is in common law from England, but it has been molded by statutes and judicial decision since the founding of the United States
Legislation
all the laws and statutes put in place by elected officials in federal, state, county, and city governments
Professionalism
an awareness of the conduct, aims, and qualities defining a given profession, familiarity with professional code of ethics, and understanding of ethical schools of thought, patient-professional interaction models, and patient rights
Quality assurance
a process to assess quality of patient care that uses hospital committees to oversee the quality of various hospital functions
Risk management
the system for identifying, analyzing, and evaluating risks and selecting the most advantageous method for treating them. Its goal is to maintain high-quality patient care and conserve the facility’s financial resources
Statutory law
any law enacted by federal, state, county, or city government
Values
qualities or standards desirable or worthy of esteem in themselves; they are expressed in behaviors, language, and standards of conduct
Virtue ethics
a new school of ethics that focuses on the use of practical wisdom for emotional and intellectual problem solving. It incorporates elements of teleology and deontology to provide a more holistic approach to solving ethical dilemmas
