Ethics In Ultrasound Flashcards
Summarize Sonography Canada’s Code of Ethics
5 Points
- Moral principles that are the foundation of ethical practice.
- Provides guidance for ethical relationships, responsibilities, behaviours and decision making.
- Used in conjunction w/ professional standards, laws and policies.
- Aims to promote excellence in patient care and ensure integrity of professionals
- Provides info about the ethical commitments of sonographers and supports the delivery of safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care.
Summarize Sonography Canada’s Code of Conduct
4 Points
- Sonographers must demonstrate behaviour that follows the core values of the organization and act professional and appropriate at all times while providing best care for patients
- Every individual has the right to work in an environment of integrity, respect, compassion and is harassment free.
- Based on a commitment to Compassion, Quality and Respect
- Personal, Sexual and racial harassment is outlined and absolutely not tolerated
Summarize Sonography Canada’s ‘Scope of Practice’
Outlines the max limits of practice and encompasses the activities we are educated and authorized to perform
The boundaries of practice are established by law and limited to the areas for which an individual had shown clinical competency.
Sonographers must obtain credentials and follow strict practice guidelines, demonstrate excellent communication and patient care skills
Summarize Sonography Canada’s ‘Professional Practice’
- Obtain qualifications (credentials)
- Obtain liability insurance
- Follow exam protocol
- Obtain informed consent
- Ultrasound for entertainment is not supported (sneak a peek)
- Follow procedures for safety and bioeffects
- WHMIS
- Follow endocavity procedures
- Follow gel bottle reccomendations
Summarize the ‘Patient Bill of Rights’
- Empower patients by providing certain rights and entitlement as they interact with healthcare professional and institutions
- Patients are safer and receive higher quality care when providers work as a team
- Bill of Rights attempts to provide more equal footing between patient and sonographer
Who is our governing body?
Sonography Canada
What are the Code of Ethics Principles?
- Consider first the well being of the patient
- Responsibilities to patient well being
- Responsibilities to professional competence
- Responsibilities to professional integrity
Describe patient rights
9
- Informed about one’s medical condition
- Advised of treatment options
- Involved in treatment decisions
- Access to qualifications and experience of H.C. Professionals from whom services are received
- Confidential communication and records
- Receive considerate, compassionate, respectful care
- Access/copies of health records
- To designate a person to act on their behalf if incapacitated
- To be informed of all rights and responsibilities under the bill or federal/provincial law in respect to health services
When is it okay to obtain and pass on confidential material?
Written consent from patient
How should you protect patient confidentiality?
1) Ask history in private rooms
2) Never discuss case with anyone outside patients permission
3) Never leave forms/records lying around
4) Remove patients name from monitor after exam
What is informed consent?
Patient must be informed of all aspects of the procedure
- risks
- benefits
- alternatives
- consequences if procedure is not completed
Occurs when they voluntarily give consent either verbal or written
What are the conditions of legal consent?
- Person must have capacity to give consent
- Must relate to procedure
- Must be informed
- Must be given voluntarily
- Must not be obtained through fraud
- Patient can withdraw at any time
What is expressed consent?
When patient does not stop exam, by allowing it to occur, they give consent
Silence is not an agreement
What is implied consent?
Occurs in emergency situations
We believe patient would give consent if they were able to
What can happen if consent is not given?
Patient can charge us with negligence (no injury) or assault and battery if an injury is sustained
