Chapter 3 - Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues | Vital Vocabulary Flashcards
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.
abandonment
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.
advance directive.
The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct.
applied ethics
Unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm.
assault
Touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent.
battery
The study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care.
bioethics
Disclosure of information without proper authorization.
breach of confidentiality
A process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care.
certification
Damages awarded in a civil suit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident complained about in the lawsuit.
compensatory damages
Able to make rational decisions about personal well-being.
competent
Permission to render care.
consent
A legal defense tat may be raised when the defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff.
contributary negligence
Ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care.
decision making capacity
The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person’s reputation or standing in the community.
defamation
Blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin.
dependent lividity
Oral questions asked or parties and witnesses under oath.
depositions
The phase of a civil suit 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. Discovery includes depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of records.
discovery
Written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel to not attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest.
do not resuscitate ( DNR ) orders
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.
durable power of attorney for health care
A medicolwegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care.
duty to act
A person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult.
emancipated minors
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.
emergency
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 an altered level of consciousness, disability, the effects of drugs or alcohol, or the patient’s age.
emergency doctrine
Immediate care or treatment.
emergency medical care
The philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior.
ethics
A type of consent in which a patient gives express authorization for provision of care or transport.
expressed consent
The confinement of a person without legal authority or the person’s consent.
false imprisonment
The act of physically preventing an individual from initiating and physical action.
forcible restraint
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.
Good Samaritan Laws
If your service is covered by immunity, it may mean that you cannot be sued or it may limit the amount of the monetary judgement that the plaintiff may recover; generally applies only to EMS services that are operated by municipalities or other governmental entities.
governmental immunity
Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care.
gross negligence
A written document that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient, should he or she become unable to make decisions. Also known as an advance directive or a living will.
health care directive
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. Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care.
health care proxies
Type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment.
implied consent
Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.
in loco parentis
Written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one other.
interrogatories
