Ethical Guidelines Flashcards
Beneficence
do no harm
Core principle of patient advocacy
Beneficence
Examples of beneficence
- educating patient on new prescription
- encouraging smoking cessation
- requesting doctor for stronger pain medication for patient who c/o severe pain
Nonmaleficence
avoiding harm
protect patient from harm
Nonmaleficence example
-not prescribing medications for a patient with certain risks
Utilitarianism
- obligation to act in a way that is useful to or benefits the majority
- to use a resource for the benefit of most
Example of utilitarianism
- WIC program
- Would cost society more if women, infant, or children, are harmed by inadequate food intake
Justice
- quality of being fair and acting with a lack of bias
- fair and equitable distribution of societal resources
Justice example
-Homeless man triaged and treated as the same as a patient with health insurance
Dignity
quality or state of being worthy of ethical and respectful treatment
Dignity example
- secure hospital gowns so patients are not exposed
- foley catheter bags should be placed on other side of bed so others don’t see
Fidelity
- obligation to maintain trust in relationships
- Keeping one’s promise
Fidelity example
-relationship between patient and provider
Confidentiality
- obligation to protect the patient’s identity, personal info, test results, medical records, conversations, and other health information
- protected by HIPAA
PHI
protected health information
what is included in PHI
- name, address, date of birth, social security number
- individual’s past, present, or future physical/mental health and provision of care
Autonomy
- obligation to ensure that mentally competent adult patients have the right to make their own health decisions
- express treatment preferences
- a mentally competent patient can accept or refuse, even if their children disagree
Accountability
-health care providers are responsible for their own actions and do not blame others for their mistakes
Paternalism
- situation in which one person interferes with or overrules the autonomy of another
- occurs when provider makes a decision for a patient because they believe it is in the patient’s best interest
- patient is powerless
Veracity
-obligation to present information honestly and truthfully
ANA code of ethics for nurses contains what
-goals
-values
and ethical precepts that direct the profession of nursing
Ombudsman
- a person who acts as an intermediary between the patient and the organization
- investigates and mediates the complaint form both sides and attempts to achieve a fair conclusion
Guardian ad litem
-individual assigned by a court to act in the best interest of the ward
Ward
-usually a person who is a child, or someone who is frail or vulnerable
Living will
- document that contains the patients instructions and preferences regarding health care if the patient becomes seriously ill or dying
- ensure a copy is available in the chart
Health care power of attorney
- document that indicates if a patient becomes incapacitated in the future, their preferences for medical care are listed
- goes into affect when patients doctor has determined that he or she is physically unable to communicate in a willful manner
- must be signed in presence of two adult witnesses who must also sign the document to be legal
Health care power of attorney can make financial decisions T/F
False
only for health care decisions
What is health care power of attorney also known as
advance directive for medical decisions,
health care proxy,
durable medical power of attorney
health care surrogate
Power of attorney
- document where patient designates a person who has the legal authority to make all decisions for them
- encompasses health care decisions as well as finances and other aspects of their life
Power of attorney is also known as
durable power of attorney
Power of attorney can make health and financial decisions for the patient T/F
True
Covered entities
- organizations subject to the Privacy Rule by HIPPA
- all health care providers
- health insurance companies
- health care plans
- labs
- hospitals
- SNFs
- third-party administrators
What is a third-party administrator
- organization that processes claims and administrative work for another company
- health insurer, health plan, retirement plan
HIPAA requirements
- all providers are required to provide each patient with a copy of their office’s HIPAA policy to be signed
- must be reviewed and signed annually by the patient
- patients have the right to view their medical files
- a mental health provider has the right to refuse patients’ request to view their psychiatric and mental health records
- Providers have up to 30 days to comply if patients request to view their records
- Patients are allowed to correct errors in their medical records
When is patient consent not required
- to contact the health plan/insurance company that is paying for their medical care
- to contact a third party that the insurance company or doctor’s office hires to assist in payment
- to perform certain health care operations
- contact collection agency for unpaid bills
- report abuse/neglect or domestic violence
- consult with other HCP
Can HCP leave lab results on patient’s phone?
Only if patient has given permission or requested to do so