Chapter 4 Important Words Flashcards
Advance Directive
a legal document in which a person either states choices for medical treatment or names someone to make a treatment choices if they lose decision-making ability
Alias
client is assigned a name other than their own, and all their records, laboratory tests, room tags, diet slips, and so forth use this name
Assault
a threat or an attempt to do bodily harm
Assisted Suicide
helping an individual who wants to end his or her life to do so
Battery
physical contact with another person without that person’s consent
Biological Death
permanent and irreversible cessation of the body’s physical and chemical process: death at the cellular level
Brain Death
considers the irreversible cessation of all neurological functions or the entire brain
Clinical Death
absence of heartbeat and cessation of breathing: may be reversible if achieved within 4-6 minutes
Crime
a wrong committed against a person or property or public good
Endorsement
process by which a licensed nurse in one state may receive a license to practice in another state without retaking the licensing examination
Ethics
refers to philosophic studies that examine the actions, values, and moral principles of human behaviors and that provide the fundamental idea of societal and cultural calls of right versus wrong
Euthanasia
an easy or painless death (may be induced), often referred to as mercy death or mercy killing; deliberately ending of the life of a person who has an incurable or painful disease
Felony
a crime more serious than a misdemeanor, usually punishable by imprisonment for more than a year
Good Samaritan Act
law in effect in most states that protects healthcare providers from liability when performing emergency care with the lines of first aid if they act in a “reasonable and prudent manor”
Informed Consent
giving full information and making sure the client understands before the client consents to surgery or other medical procedures
Law
formal, written rules of behavior that govern conduct and are enforced by an authority
Legal Death
death, usually declared by a healthcare provider as total absence of activity of any of the body’ systems
Liability
something one is required to do, an obligation, often financial; being found guilty of inappropriate or legal acts
Libel
a false or damaging written statement or photograph
Malpractice
injurious or faulty treatment; professional misconduct
Misdemeanor
a crime less serious than a felony, usually punishable by a fine or imprisonment less then a year
Negligence
harm done to a person because of failure to do something that a responsible person would do; do something a responsible person would not do; irresponsible care
Nurse Practice Act
the law to govern and guide nursing practice in a state or territory
Slander
malicious and fake verbal statements
Tort
a wrong or injury committed against a person or property for which the injured person has the right to sue
