chapter three: medical, legal, and ethical issues Flashcards
abandonment
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
advance directive
written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or healthcare directive
applied ethics
the manner in which principles of ethics 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 healthcare
breach of confidentiality
disclosure of information without proper authorization
certification
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 patient care
compensatory damages
damages awarded in a civil lawsuit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident
competent
able to make rational decisions about personal well-being
consent
permission to render care
contributory negligence
a legal defense that 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
credentialing
an established process to determine the qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession or to function as an organization
decision-making capacity
ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care
defamation
the communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person’s reputation or standing in the community
dependent lividity
blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin; a definitive sign of death
depositions
oral questions asked or parties and witnesses under oath
discovery
the phase of a civil lawsuit 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
do not resuscitate (DNR) orders
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
a type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make the medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf, in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity
duty to act
a medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide
emancipated minors
a person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult