Exam 3 Review (Ch. 7,8,9,10) Flashcards
Birth
- Physicians must sign certificate of live birth
- For hospital birth, certificate is filed at county clerk’s office in state birth took place
Death
- Date and time of death
- Cause of death
- How long deceased was treated before dying
- Presence of absence of pregnancy
- Whether autopsy took place
Death certificate
- Usually must be signed within 24 to 72 hours of death
- Proof that a death has occurred
- Often required to confirm information
- Settling an estate
Coroner
- Public health officer holds inquest if death from unknown or violent cause
Medical examiner
- Physician (Pathologist) who investigates unexplained deaths and can perform autopsy
Autopsy
- Examination after death to determine cause of death by examining the organs and tissue
Certain deaths require a coroner’s signature:
- No physician present at time of death
- Violent in nature
- Homicide, suicide, accident
- Death as result of criminal action
- An unlawful death
- Assisted suicide
- Result of undetermined causes
- Caused by electrical, radiation, or chemical injury
- Caused by criminal abortion
- Includes self-induced
- Occurring less than 24 hours after hospital admission
- Of a person who had no physician in attendance within 36 hours of death
- Occurring outside a hospital or licensed health care facility
- Suspicious death
- Fall
- Of a person whose body is not claimed by friend or relative
- Of a person of unknown identity
- Of a child underage of two if death is from unknown cause
- Of a person in jail or prison
Duty to Report AIDS, HIV, and ARC Cases
- All states require reports of these cases to local or state department of health
- Who shall report the case varies from state to state (attending physician, laboratory, etc.)
- Many states have confidentiality statutes
Disclosure to Patients of Health Workers’ HIV Status
- Health care workers consider disclosure an invasion of privacy
- All blood and tissue donors tested
- Patients have desire to know if they are at risk of HIV infection
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act:
Requires reporting of all child abuse cases
Probable cause:
A reasonable belief that something improper has happened
Battered child syndrome—
Describes a series of injuries, fractures, bruises, and burns. Signs of neglect, malnutrition, poor growth, poor hygiene
Child Abuse
- Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: Requires reporting of all child abuse cases
- All abuse must be reported by teachers, health professionals, law enforcement and day care personnel, and social service workers
- Probable cause: A reasonable belief that something improper has happened
- Physicians have been held liable for not reporting cases
- Persons reporting is protected by law from being sued by parents and others
- Battered child syndrome— Describes a series of injuries, fractures, bruises, and burns. Signs of neglect, malnutrition, poor growth, poor hygiene
- Parental neglect
- States generally refrain from involvement
- State may have to intervene when a child is not receiving proper medical care
- All abuse must be reported by teachers, health professionals, law enforcement and day care personnel, and social service workers
Elder Abuse
- Older American Act (1987)
- Includes physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment, and financial abuse of adults 60 and older
- Protects residents of nursing home facilities
- Protects against financial abuse or exploitation
Spousal Abuse
- Laws governing the reporting vary by state
- Local police may have to become involved when spousal abuse is suspected
- Court may issue restraining or protective order prohibiting abuser from contact with victim
Signs of Abuse
- Repeated injuries
- Bruises and unexplained swelling
- Signs of inadequate nutrition
- Unexplained fractures
- Bite marks
- Unusual marks
- Bruising or swelling in genital area
- Venereal disease and genital abrasions
- Makeup to hide bruises
- Sunglasses worn inside to hide blackened eyes
Substance Abuse
- Abuse of prescription drugs is reportable immediately according to law
- Violation of controlled substances laws is a criminal offense
Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
An agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that ultimately oversees and enforces laws regarding drug sales and distribution
Controlled Substances Act of 1970:
A federal statute that regulates the manufacture and distribution of drugs that are capable of causing dependency
Medical examiner:
A physician, usually a pathologist, who can investigate an unexplained death and perform autopsies
Cultural Considerations
- Background and experience heavily influence personal beliefs
- Stereotyping: Negative generalities concerning specific characteristics about a group are applied to an entire population
- Bias: Unfair dislike or preference against someone, can prevent a health care professional from making an impartial judgement
- Do not judge a person
- Different cultures have their own practices for personal hygiene
- Ethnocentric people: Tend to believe that their way of viewing and experiencing the world is superior to other’s views.
- Communication can be a challenge for many people who do not understand English
- Non-English-speaking patients need brochures and handouts in their own language
- Cultural restrictions can pose difficult situations
Stereotyping:
Negative generalities concerning specific characteristics about a group are applied to an entire population
Bias:
Unfair dislike or preference against someone, can prevent a health care professional from making an impartial judgement
Ethnocentric people:
Tend to believe that their way of viewing and experiencing the world is superior to other’s views
Religious Considerations
- Patient autonomy
- Conditions can result in confusion for the medical professional
- Guardianship may have to be established
- It is never appropriate to judge another person’s customs or beliefs
- Employer has a legal obligation to accommodate religious practices