ethics final Flashcards
active euthanasia
The ending of another person’s life by an aggressive method to end suffering
active suicide
the taking of one’s own life through a conscious act
advance directive
A predetermined (usually written) choice made to inform others of the ways in which the patient wishes to be treated while incompetent. Also, a living will that contains written instructions for future health care. Written instructions expressing one’s health care wishes in the event that he or she becomes incapacitated and is unable to make such decisions.
affidavit
A voluntary statement of facts, or a voluntary declaration in writing of facts, that a person swears to be true before an official authorized to administer an oath.
ALARA
The approach to radiation protection with the goal to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable.
ARRT
organization that controls radiography’s code of ethics
assault
A deliberate act wherein one person threatens to harm another without consent and the victim believes the attacker has the ability to carry out the threat. An intentional act that is designed to make the victim fearful and produces reasonable apprehension of harm.
autonomy
The ethical principle that states “ actions should respect the independence of others.” The concept that patients are to be treated as individuals and informed about procedures to facilitate appropriate decisions. Right of an individual to make his or her own independent decisions.
battery
Touching to which the victim has not consented. Intentional touching of one person by another without the consent of the person being touched.
beneficence
Ethical principle that states “decisions are made to benefit others”. Performance of good acts. Describes the principle of doing good, demonstrating kindness, and helping others.
case law
Law developed from precedents set during civil and criminal trials. Aggregate of reported cases on a particular legal subject as formed by the decisions of those cases.
civil law
Law that addresses wrongs committed by one party harming another. Penalties for violation can include monetary damages to compensate for loss and to punish. Body of law that describes the private rights and responsibilities of individuals. The part of law that does not deal with crimes, it involves actions filed by one
individual against another
code of ethics
Statement of acceptable and unacceptable behavior generated by members of a professional society
common law
Law encompassing principles and rules based on ancient usages and customs. Body of principles that has evolved and continues to evolve and expand from court decisions. Many of the legal principles and rules applied by courts in the United States had their origins in English common law.
competence
the ability to make choices
confidentiality
the duty owned by health care providers to protect the privacy of patient information
consequentialism
To evaluate the rightness and wrongness of ethical decisions by assessing the consequences of these decisions on the patient.
corporate liability
States that the healthcare facility is responsible for the workers and care, use, and availability of equipment.
criminal law
law that seeks to redress wrongs against the state
criminal negligence
Reckless disregard for the safety of others. It is the willful indifference to an injury that could follow and act.
defamation
Holding a person to ridicule, scorn, or contempt. The making of a false statement to a third party that is harmful to another’s reputation. Defamatory statements may concern patients, family members, visitors, other employees, or physicians. Injury of a person’s reputation or character caused by false statements of another made to a third person. Defamation includes both libel
and slander
defendant
The party called to answer the allegations made in a lawsuit or criminal case. In a criminal case, the person accused of committing a crime. In a civil suit, the party against whom the suit is brought.
DNR
Directive of a physician to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event that a patient experiences cardiac arrest.
due process
The constitutional right that protects individuals from arbitrary decisions by government, including those regarding education, and provides a path of recourse. It requires that specific procedures be
followed in bringing charges against a person to ensure fairness.
durable power of attorney
Legal instrument enabling an individual to act on another’s behalf. In the health care setting, a durable power of attorney for health care is the authority to make medical decisions for another.
duties
obligations placed on individuals, groups, or institutions
duty to care
In tort law, a duty of care is a legal obligation which is imposed on an individual requiring adherence to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. It is the first element that must be established to proceed with an action in negligence
EMTALA
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act is a statute which governs when and how a patient may be (1) refused treatment or (2) transferred from one hospital to another when he is in an unstable medical condition.
ERISA
Employee Retirement and Security Act, enacted to deal with pension scams, also covers health plans and preempts or sometimes prevents state tort lawsuits and state regulation of managed care organizations.
ethics
The system or code of conduct and morals advocated by a particular individual or group. The systematic study of rightness and wrongness of human conduct and character
ethics committee
a committee that is composed of a variety of health care professionals and has the mission of helping to address ethical dilemmas in the health care setting
euthanasia
Deliberately ending the life of another to end that person’s
suffering. A greek word meaning “the good death”. It is an act
conducted for the purpose of causing the merciful death of a
person who is suffering from an incurable condition, such as
providing a patient with medications to hasten his or her death
false imprisonment
the unlawful confinement of a person within a fixed area. restraint against a person’s will
fidelity
the ethical principle that states “acts that observe covenant or promises are right”
good samaritan laws
Laws designed to protect those who stop to render aid in an
emergency. These laws generally provide immunity for specified persons from a civil suit arising out of care rendered at the scene of an emergency, provided that the one rendering assistance has not done so in a grossly negligent manner.
grievance
the process undertaken to resolve a labor-management dispute when there is an allegation by a union member that management has failed in some way to meet the terms of a labor agreement.
health care proxy
document that delegates the authority to make one’ sown health care decisions to another, known as health care agent, when one has become incapacitated or is unable to make his or her own decisions
HIPPA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted by the federal government to enhance the rights of consumers regarding access to their records, limit access of others to those records, and improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care delivery through a national framework.