Law & Ethics Flashcards
In project management, it is a set of boundaries that define the extent of the project. These boundaries determine what falls inside and outside the project and what is, or is not included, during planning.
Scope
Under FMLA Family Medical Leave Act, a “key” employee by definition are the top ___% of the highest paid employees
a. 1%
b. 5%
c. 10%
d. 15%
10%
True / False
An Employer may fire or discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint or participating in a legal proceeding involving any of the provisions of the act.
False
It is a violation of the FLSA for the Employer to fire or in any way discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint or participating in a legal proceeding involving any of the provisions of the act.
A state’s or commonwealth’s law, codified into regulations, describing what licensed and non-licensed employees can and cannot do, as well as acceptable medical standards, as it relates to veterinary medicine.
The Veterinary Practice Act
What Act provides safeguards for employee interest in any employer-sponsored retirement plan
ERISA Employee Retirement Income Security Act
True / False
When Emergency Care for patients brought in by a concerned citizen who is NOT the owner Veterinarians have an ethical responsibility to provide essential services to animals to save a life or relieve suffering, even in the absence of the identity of the owner. This can lead to care without payment due to lack of consent.
True
A state or commonwealth’s law, codified into regulations, describing what licensed and non-licensed employees can and cannot do, as well as acceptable medical standards, as it relates to veterinary medicine.
Practice Act
The state or condition of being free from observation, or disturbed by other people
Privacy
Ethical, legal or moral responsibility of conduct, function or performance, that usually arises from an implied contract
Duty
True/False
An employer does not need to continue to provide the same health benefits, under the same terms and conditions, as the employer would have provided if the employee had been continuously employed during the entire leave period unless the employee pays the full premium.
False
An employer must continue to provide the same health benefits, under the same terms and conditions, as the employer would have provided if the employee had been continuously employed during the entire leave period.
Which law enforces the following issues:
Sexual Harassment
Pregnancy discrimination Act
Americans with Disabilities Act
Age Discrimination Act
Civil Rights Act
Enforced by EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act applies to employers with ___ or more employees
a. All employers, no matter the number of employees
b. 10
c. 15
d. 25
e. 50
15 or more employees
Defined as a delivery of something of a personal nature by one party to another to be held according to the purpose or the object of the delivery and to be returned or delivered over when the purpose is accomplished.
Bailment
Whenever a vet assumes custody of a client’s animal, a bailment takes place. A written boarding agreement is an example of a written bailment.
What is the first A – in the 4 As to Rise above Moral Distress?
a. Analyze
b. Assess
c. Ask
d. Appraise
c. Ask
In the 4 A’s of rising above Moral Distress, what does it mean to Assess
Assess - This is when you contemplate your readiness to act, considering the risks and benefits
Identify sources of your distress
Under what circumstances do the signs and symptoms occur
Do others suffer related to these resources? Consider all the personal, interpersonal, or environmental factors
True / False
A liaison is a broad term that refers to the person who maintains communications with any other entity involved with the business of running the practice.
True
Regarding the four priorities of general emergency management, which one strategies and actions that reduce the likelihood and impact of a threat
a. Mitigation -
b. Preparation -
c. Response -
d. Recovery -
a. Mitigation
An individual or group with an interest in a particular business; the individual or group usually has something at risk
Stakeholders
Title I of ERISA Employee Retirement Income Security Act, outlines reporting and disclosure obligations, minimum participation rules, vesting and funding requirements, and fiduciary standards, and is enforced by:
a. IRS
b. DOL
c. PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp)
d. EEOC
e. FLSA
b. DOL Department of Labor
The identification, assessment, and prioritization of financial risk followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability of said risk
Economic Risk Management
This insurance covers damages that the vet causes to OTHER persons, pets or property. This policy will contain multiple provisions, with separate limits, for personal injury and property damage caused to others.
Liability coverage
Give two Examples of situations in veterinary medicine that have both legal (practice Act) and ethical considerations
Informed Consent
Emergency Care
In regards to capacity to contract, such as a pet owner contracting with a practice to treat their pet, there are three basic situations where legitimacy regarding the capacity to make a valid contract would be questioned. Which element is NOT one of those situations?
a. A minor under the state common law rules
b. A person not listed as the legal owner of the pet
c. Intoxication or substance abuse
d. Mental disability
b. A person not listed as the legal owner of the pet
An agreement between two professionals limiting the ability to practice medicine within the established area, for a specified time, if one would leave the practice.
Covenants not to Compete
True / False
An employer may not take fetal welfare into account when deciding whether to permit a pregnant employee to remain on the job
True
HOWEVER the pregnant employee should be advised of any workplace hazards that could affect her pregnancy.
once a valid VCPR has been established during a treatment plan or illness of a pet, how long is the practice required to provide care for the patient?
A practice must continue the tx until the animal recovers, the vet has completed all the tx agreed upon, the patient dies, or the client terminates the client patient relationship.
How many diseases are currently known to be zoonotic?
a. 780.
b. 1,400
c. 4,200
d. Over 5,000
b. 1400
No direct Statement of agreement, but is demonstrated by actions indicating acceptance of the offer, (ex handshake)
Implied Acceptance
True/ False
Employers are not required to lower quality standards in order to make an accommodation, nor are they required to provide personal use items such as eyeglasses or hearing aids.
True
Who enforces the federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination?
a. The Fair Labor Standards Act.
b. The Civil Rights Act
c. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
c. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
True / False
Employers must make certain to actively protect pregnant employees against any job duty that may cause harm to the baby, and reassign said employee without notice.
False
Employers must treat a pregnant employee, with regard to performance of job functions, in the exact same manner that any other temporarily disabled employee would be treated.
True / False
Ethics Exhaustion is a state where an individual’s compassion has died out, even if just temporarily.
False Ethics exhaustion isn’t a lack of compassion, but it is being prevented from acting on what you believe is the compassionate, caring thing to do.
A more complex mode of transmission and involves intermediaries that carry the agent of disease from one source to another
Indirect Transmission
The duty of keeping secret or private information pertaining to a patient’s health that was obtained during the formation of a diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis of the animal.
Confidentiality agreement (aka nondisclosure agreements)
True / False
Practice Acts are regulated and enforced by the state board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) which oversees veterinarians. With adequate evidence of wrongdoing, boards can revoke any professional veterinary license.
True
What is the first step in creating a business contingency plan?
a. The formation of the recovery team.
b. Back up all available data.
c. A risk assessment.
c. A risk assessment.
The state or condition of being free from observation, or disturbed by other people
Privacy
What does FUTA stand for?
Federal Unemployment Tax Act
Veterinary Practice Acts are _____ laws that are regulated and enforced by the state veterinary medical board
State laws
In the 4 A’s of rising above Moral Distress, what does it mean to Act
Act - This is when you implement strategies to initiate changes and manage any resulting setbacks. It is also the step where you preserve your integrity and authenticity
Prepare to Act
Develop a self care plan
Identify appropriate sources of support
Investigate outside resources for guidance
What are the most common complaints to the Board of Veterinary Medicine?
a. Lack of Communication
b. Unexpected Death
c. Too Expensive
d. Conduct
e. Record Keeping
f. Unprofessional Staff
g. Premises
h. Location
i. Pharmaceutical Issues
j. Unsatisfied Experiences
a. Lack of Communication
b. Unexpected Death
d. Conduct
e. Record Keeping
g. Premises
i. Pharmaceutical issues
j. Unsatisfied Experience
Usually a generic term used to refer to CPAs, bookkeepers, tax-preparers, auditors, and other financial professionals
Accountant
True/False
Exams, such as physical and intellectual capacity (spelling, grammar) can be requested prior to an employment offer, but make sure ALL applicants are completing the exact same exams.
True
But NO medical tests can be performed
Generally defined as the risk of having the ‘license to operate’ withdrawn by a regulator, or having conditions applied (retrospectively or prospectively) that adversely impact the economic value of a practice
Regulatory Risk Management -
In the 4 A’s of rising above Moral Distress, what does it mean to Affirm
Affirm - This is when you make a commitment to address the moral distress.
Affirm your distress and your commitment to take care of yourself
Validate your feelings and perceptions with others
Affirm your professional responsibility to act
True / False
If the practice with a VCPR decides to terminate tx they must make a valid effort to find another vet to take over the tx.
True
In regards to gas anesthesia, these are the three types of gas scavenger systems, which provides the best protection for employees?
a. Active scavenger system
b. Passive system.
c. Absorption system.
a. Active scavenger system
written historical records of financial standing, earnings and cash flow for a given period
Financial Statements
True / False
The owner of the practice can be held responsible for the discriminating actions or behavior of their employee towards another employee
True
True / False
If a covenant restricts a professional’s ability to earn a living or restricts the public from having the benefit of the competition, the courts may not enforce the covenant
True
This type of harassment Includes unwelcome conduct that is either sexual in nature or is directed at a person because of the person’s gender, and that unreasonably interferes with the individual’s job performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment, even if it leads to no tangible or economic job consequences.
Environmental sexual harassment
The following are all requirements of which law?
- Minimum Wage
- Overtime pay
- Commission pay
- Bonuses
- Trainees
- Handicapped workers
- Part-time employees
- Child labor
FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act
This refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
Sexual Harassment
Who enforces anti-discrimination against Sexual harassment, preganancy discrimination, disabled employees, age discrimination, religion, national origin, affirmative action.
EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Complete informed consent must contain the following elements
Consent must be given freely
Tx and diagnosis must be given in understandable terms
The risks, benefits and the prognosis of the defined procedure must be stated
The prognosis if no treatment is selected must be stated
Practice must provide alternative treatments, including risks, benefits an costs
The client must be given an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered.
A signed consent form does not indicate that an informed consent occurred, because many people sign consent forms without reading them.
Verbal discussion MUST occur.
All risks, benefits and prognoses should be listed as such and initialed by both individuals (client & tech/DVM)
***If the consent is challenged in a court of law and these conditions were not met, the court may conclude the client did not consent.
HIPAA Stands for:
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
What are the 4 A’s to rise above Moral Distress
- Ask
- Affirm
- Assess
- Act
Defined as the doing of some act that ia person of ordinary prudence would not have done under the same or similar circumstances or the failure to do what a person of ordinary prudence would have done under the same or similar circumstances.
Negligence
a place where an infectious organism survives and replicates
Reservoir
This group was created to enforce the anti-discrimination law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Fatigue, Emotional Distress and the lack of will to continue to act in a way that is consistent with what you believe is the right thing to do.
Ethics Exhaustion
This is a modification or adjustment to a job or to the work environment that enables a qualified person or an employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform the essential functions of the job.
Reasonable Accommodation
Very often the compleity of the legal system and the sluggish progression of cases will discourage people from using the judicial system. There are three alternative to a lawsuit to settle a dispute. What are the definitions to each one?
1. Negotiation
2. Mediation
3. Arbitration
- Negotiation - A conversation between the involved parties with or without legal counsel
- Mediation - The use of an intermediary who is a neutral party and in whom both sides have confidence. The parties are not required to accept the mediator’s findings.
- Arbitration - similar to Mediation, except that the findings of the neutral arbitrator are generally binding on the parties
This defense theory is often applied in cases involving animal bites to clients, vets or vet staff members. The defendant in the action will claim that the plaintiff “assumed the risk” of getting it and therefore cannot recover damages
Assumption of risk
Aid society and animals through providing excellent care and services for animals
Prevent and relieve the suffering of animals
Promote public health by assisting with control of zoonotic diseases and informing the public about these diseases
Assume accountability for individual professional actions and judgments
Protect confidential information provided by clients
Safeguard the public and the profession against individuals deficient in professional competence or ethics
Assist with efforts to ensure conditions of employment consistent with the excellent care for animals
Remain competent in veterinary technology through commitment to life-long learning
Collaborate with members of the veterinary medical profession in efforts to ensure quality health care services for all animals.
National Association of Veterinary Technicians (NAVTA) Code of Ethics
requires close contact between the reservoir of the disease and the susceptible host. Examples are contact with infected skin, mucous membranes, or droplets from the infected animal or human, soil or vegetation that is contaminated.
Direct Transmission
This branch of veterinary ethics Refer to the search for correct principles of good and bad, right and wrong, and justice and injustice.
Normative Ethics
In regards to Unjust Enrichment – the legal system will look for which of the following elements before considering applying the law to a situation:
a. The more emergent the animal’s needs are the more leeway exists to provide the emergency medical care.
b. The veterinarian attempted to reach the owner prior to medical care.
c. The extent of the emergency care required to stabilize the patient was reasonable.
The more emergent the animal’s needs are the more leeway exists to provide the emergency medical care.
The veterinarian attempted to reach the owner prior to medical care.
The extent of the emergency care required to stabilize the patient was reasonable.
A set of detailed methods, procedures and routines created to carry out a specific activity, perform a duty, or solve a problem.
Systems
The ADEA Age Discrimination in Employment Act applies to employers with ____ or more employees.
a. All employers no matter the number of employees
b. 10
c. 15
d. 20
e. 50
20
True / False
Any contract for the sale of real estate must have a written agreement, and cannot be oral.
True, as stated under the Statute of Frauds
This insurance Covers damage to the insured’s OWN property
Property Insurance
When one person demonstrates a willingness to enter into an agreement involving certain definite terms and invites the other party in the bargaining transaction to agree to the same terms, a legally sufficient _____ has been made.
a. Consideration
b. Offer
c. Express Acceptance
d. Implied Acceptance
Offer
What is the top complaint the Board of Veterinary Medicine receives?
Lack of Communication
What are the two types of sexual harassment?
Quid Pro Quo
Environmental sexual harassment
This is classified legally as a tort (a civil wrong or wrongful act, whether intentional or accidental, from which injury occurs to another) that requires proof of four essential elements, and if any of the elements cannot be provided by a preponderance of the evidence then the cause of action fails.
Malpractice
Strategies and procedures put in place to protect confidential data from unauthorized access
Data Breach Risk Management
Regarding the four priorities of general emergency management, which one is the process of returning to normal after an emergency event. This could be a lengthy process.
a. Mitigation -
b. Preparation -
c. Response -
d. Recovery -
d. Recovery
A document that lists the names of the record series produced by your practice, along with their agreed retention periods and disposition methods.
Retention Schedule
Informed Consent
A person’s agreement to allow something to happen, such as a medical procedure that is based on full disclosure of the facts necessary to make an intelligent decision
Which law requires employers to keep records on wages, hours and other information for at least 3 years?
FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act
This branch of veterinary ethics refers to the study of ethical views of veterinarians and vet professionals regarding their behavior and attitudes. Essentially what is right and wrong. Not what is moral or immoral in a professional’s behavior.
Descriptive Ethics
To get the most efficiency from a CPA at tax time, it is best to have obtained their services for tax planning prior to the end of the calendar year and to have all accounting records (QuickBooks or other software reports) to the CPA by when?
a. First week of January
b. Third or last week of January
c. First two weeks of February
d. Anytime during February
b. Third or last week of January
a living organism that transports infectious agents (fleas, ticks, mosquitos, etc)
Vetor
Title II of ERISA covers amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and is enforced by:
a. IRS
b. DOL
c. PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp)
d. EEOC
e. FLSA
a. IRS
ADEA Age Discrimination in Employment Act
This law prohibits discrimination in employment because of age in such matters as hiring, job retention, compensation and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
FMLA Family Medical Leave Act applies to employers with ____ or more employees
a. All employers no matter the number of employees
b. 10
c. 15
d. 20
e. 50
50
A type of Negligence where the client’s recovery is determined by the percent of negligence on the part of the client. If the client is found to be 25% negligent, then they will recover 75% of the total damages. Typically, if the client is found to be over 50% negligent the client cannot recover any damages
Comparative Negligence
This is a modification or adjustment to a job or to the work environment that enables a qualified person or an employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform the essential functions of the job.
Reasonable Accommodation
EEOC enforces anti-discrimination against employers of at least ___ # of employees
15 employees
True / False
If an employer suspects a candidate for employment may be an illegal immigrant, they may require proper documentation just from them. It is not required for all candidates.
False
If employer photocopies required documents for one employee, they must do it for all employees. Keep copies with original documents.
Belief systems of the practice. The cultural values that guide team members work for the practice
Core Values
True/False
Disclosures of ordinary facts not related to professional vet services can be made without authorization from an owner, such things as patient age, name, breed, species, sex and probably vaccination history and medications dispensed can be released without owner consent.
True
The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
Mitigation
When a vet accepts custody of a clients pet, which party is the bailor and which is the Bailee?
Bailor is the client in this example, the vet is the Bailee
True / False
Medical records are the property of the practice, however they are considered privileged and confidential and should not be released except by court order or consent of the patient’s owner.
True
When it comes to the employment of minors, which age group can only work 3 hours per day during school days and 8 hours a day on non-school days? They also cannot begin work prior to 7 am.
a. 14 – 15 year olds.
b. 14 – 16 year olds.
c. Any employee under 17 years of age.
a. 14 – 15 year olds.
A clause or statement that tries to prevent the creation of a warranty or contract
Disclaimer
What is the Purpose of the Professional Code of Ethics?
Purpose of the Professional Code of Ethics is to help members of a profession achieve high standards of behavior through moral consciousness, decision making and practice. It challenges us to determine right from wrong.
This Act allows qualified individuals to extend their health insurance benefit on a self-pay basis for a period of 18 months to 36 months after termination of employment - length of time depends on reason for termination
COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
provide the most basic level of assurance that the accountant provides after obtaining a rudimentary knowledge of the vet industry and the services provided. The accountant will determine if there are any obvious departures from generally accepted accounting procedures.
Compiled Financial Statements
True / False
In a Covenant not to Compete the scope of activity is generally restricted and includes a time limitation and geographic restraint.
True
True / False
Employees can legitimately discuss client or patient information with The client, The client’s agent, The treating veterinarian, Other employees involved in the patients care.
True
the most common bacteria present in dog and cat bites
Pasteurella
What Act:
- Applies to every practice
- Requires any employee working more than 40 hours per week must be paid overtime
- Was Created to establish minimum wage, over-time pay standards and to regulate the employment of minors
FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act
This law makes it Unlawful for business to:
Hire for US employment any alien knowing that such person is unauthorized to work, or any person without verifying his or her work status
Continue to employ an alien knowing of such person’s unauthorized work status
IRCA Immigration Reform and Control Act
Veterinary Practice Act Laws cannot be changed easily. Proposed changes must be submitted to the ____ and _____ and ultimately signed into law by _________.
House and Senate
the Governor
What is the process for making changes to Veterinary Practice Act laws?
a. Only an unanimous vote of the state’s veterinary medical associations board members.
b. Proposed changes must be submitted to the House and Senate and ultimate signed into law by the Governor.
c. Through a lengthy process that includes introduction of the proposed changes, membership time for rebuttal, and eventually voting opportunities for all members.
b. Proposed changes must be submitted to the House and Senate and ultimate signed into law by the Governor.