Intro to Surgical Technology - Legal and Ethical Responsibilities 3-A

Question 1

process for identifying the factors that are the basis for any variation in performance, including the occurrence or possible occurrence of a sentinel event

Answer 1

root cause analysis

Question 2

having to do with traditional medical principles that require physicians to follow a high standard of moral conduct while practicing medicine

Answer 2

hippocratic

Question 3

principles that govern human conduct and values

Answer 3

ethics

Question 4

failure to use care that a reasonable and prudent person would use under similar circumstances

Answer 4

negligence

Question 5

an unexpected or unanticipated event (unrelated to the natural course of the patient;s illness) in a health care setting that results in death or serious psychological or physical injury to a patient

Answer 5

sentinel event

Question 6

insurance that protects a professional person such as a physician, surgical technologist, or dentist against an act of negligence

Answer 6

malpractice insurance

Question 7

provides federal protection for personal health information, grants patients various rights, and permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care

Answer 7

HIPAA Privacy Rules

Question 8

a violation of the obligation to keep a patient’s records and confidences private

Answer 8

breach of confidentiality

Question 9

an injury induced by a doctor or care giver

Answer 9

latrogenic injury

Question 10

the degree of negligence in which each of the parties involved may be shown to have been responsible for the injury caused

Answer 10

comparative negligence

Question 11

literally “a superior (or master) must answer”; employers are responsible for the acts and omissions of their employees

Answer 11

respondeat superior

Question 12

the expectation that an individual may be called to account for actions taken that were consistent with responsibilities contracted by virtue of employment or learner experience

Answer 12

accountability

Question 13

law established on the basis of previous court decisions

Answer 13

common law

Question 14

literally, “a thing that speaks for itself”; a defendant is guilty of negligence without the need to show their direct involvement; its use is limited to cases in which the cause of a plaintiff’s injury was entirely under the control of the defendant and presumably the injury could have been caused only by negligence

Answer 14

res ipsa loquitur

Question 15

a statement made to a lawyer, physician or member of the clergy in confidence and implicitly understood that it shall remain a secret

Answer 15

confidential communication

Question 16

a private or civil wrong or injury for which the court provides a remedy through an action for damages

Answer 16

tort

Question 17

literally, “the patient first”; the motto of the Association of Surgical Technologists

Answer 17

aeger primo

Question 18

legally valid document written in advance of serious illness that state a patient’s choices for health care or names a second party to make those choices if the patient becomes unable to make decisions

Answer 18

advance directive

Question 19

the state of being legally responsible for one’s actions

Answer 19

personal liability

Question 20

a person accused of a tort or crime who is required to make answer in a legal action or suit

Answer 20

defendant

Question 21

one who commences a legal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his/her rights; the complaining party

Answer 21

plaintiff

Question 22

the right of a patient to expect that professional and technical personnel will perform their duties and meet the standards of other reasonable, prudent, and honest personnel involved in similar circumstances

Answer 22

doctrine of reasonable man

Question 23

a legal process charging a party with a wrong done or a crime committed

Answer 23

complaint

Question 24

any professional misconduct resulting in harm to another

Answer 24

malpractice

Question 25

testimony of a witness or a party taken under oath outside the courtroom, the transcript of which becomes part of the court’s file

Answer 25

deposition

Question 26

literally, “first do no harm”; a guiding principal of the Hippocratic medical ethics

Answer 26

primum non nocere

Question 27

the supervisor, instructor, or physician is absent while the surgical technologist is performing their responsibilities or the supervisor, instructor, or physician is not near enough to the technologist to give assistance

Answer 27

lack of proper supervision

Question 28

an act or omission that is the result of actual conscious indifference to rights, safety, or welfare of persons

Answer 28

gross/criminal negligence

Question 29

law enacted by Congress and state legislatures

Answer 29

statutory law

Question 30

a lawsuit

Answer 30

litigation

Question 31

the degree to which an action could be anticipated to cause injury; a key issue in determining a person’s liability

Answer 31

doctrine of foreseeability

Question 32

the employer normally liable for an employee’s actions is not held responsible when that employee is under the direction of someone else

Answer 32

doctrine of borrowed servant

Question 33

the formal process of examining evidence by a judge and usually before a jury, in order to determine guilt in criminal or civil cases

Answer 33

trial

Question 34

the granting of licenses to practice a profession; ensures that individual is qualified and has met certain educational and training standards

Answer 34

licensure

Question 35

documentation that confirms that one has met the requirements of and may practice in the field

Answer 35

certification

Question 36

the process of establishing a minimum level of skills and knowledge for a professional activity

Answer 36

credentialing

Question 37

the formal recognition of an instructional program as conforming with a set of standards

Answer 37

accreditation

Question 38

the act of listing qualified individuals in a registry

Answer 38

registration

Question 39

To maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and patient (care or privacy)

Answer 39

care

Question 40

To hold in confidence, with respect to the patient’s (beliefs or opinions), all personal matters

Answer 40

beliefs

Question 41

To respect and ( acknowledge or protect) the patient’s legal and moral rights to quality patient care

Answer 41

protect

Question 42

To not knowingly cause injury or any (embarrassment or injustice) to those entrusted to our care.

Answer 42

injustice

Question 43

To always follow the principles of (asepsis or cleanliness)

Answer 43

asepsis

Question 44

To maintain a high degree of (safety or efficiency) through continuing education

Answer 44

efficiency

Question 45

To adhere to the (moral principles or code of ethics) at all times with all members of the health are team

Answer 45

code of ethics

Question 46

To maintain and practice surgical technology willingly with pride and (accountability or dignity)

Answer 46

dignity

Question 47

Standards of professional practice describe activities related to quality assurance, education, ethical behavior, and ______.

Answer 47

accountability

Question 48

Standards are set and maintained by each medical facility to provide guidelines for patient care and _____.

Answer 48

safety

Question 49

Personnel must adhere to established policies and procedures to protect themselves, other workers and the medical facility from _____.

Answer 49

litigation

Question 50

_____ is essential to perioperative care and contingent upon interpersonal skills.

Answer 50

Teamwork

Question 51

Preoperative planning and preparation for surgical intervention are _____ to meet the needs of the patient and the surgeon.

Answer 51

individualized

Question 52

Application of basic and current _____ is necessary for a proficient performance of assigned functions.

Answer 52

knowledge

Question 53

Each patient’s rights to _____, dignity, safety, and comfort are respected and protected.

Answer 53

privacy

Question 54

Every patient is entitled to the same application of _____ techniques within the physical facilities.

Answer 54

asepsis