Medical Laws And Ethics Study Flashcards
True or False?
Your values are a reflection of your ethics
True
Results of breaking medical law include all of the following except
Paying a fine
A physical invasion of privacy occurs when?
A healthcare professional does not protect the modesty of a patient
Malpractice is defined as?
Misconduct or lack of skill that results in patient injury
True or false
Doctors may share patient information when the authorities/courts request and when a patient says they are hurt
False
Medical ethics
Concerned with whether actions are right or wrong
Medical law
Focuses on whether actions are legal or illegal
Ethics committees
In healthcare facilities consider ethical problems that affect the care and treatment of patients
Code of ethics
Most healthcare organizations have a code of ethics; healthcare workers are expected to to know, understand, and comply with the code of ethics
Values
Concepts, ideas, beliefs that are important and meaningful to a person
True or false
Your values and behaviors are a reflection of your ethics
True
Results of breaking medical law
Civil or criminal prosecution
Loss of a professional license
Paying a fine
Prison sentence
Physical invasion of privacy
When a healthcare worker does not protect the modesty of a patient
Informational invasion of privacy
When a worker reveals patient’s information without the patient’s consent
Patients’s Bill of Rights
List of guarantees for those receiving medical care
Ombudsman
May be a Nurse, trained volunteer, or social worker who ensures that patients are not abused and their legal rights are protected
Advance Directive
When a patient gives instructions about healthcare decisions for when he or she is incapacitated
Do-not-resuscitate (DNR)
Document that states that CPR or other advanced cardiac life support should not be performed if a patient stops breathing or a patient’s heart stops
Durable Power of Attorney
Grants another person the authority to make legal decisions for you
Guardian
A person appointed by a court to make decisions to protect the interests of the patient who is mentally or physically incapacitated
Emancipated minor
A person under 18 who is financially and legally responsible for herself or himself
Duty of Care
Legal obligation for healthcare personnel to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to a patient
Negligence
Performing an act that a reasonable person would not have done or failing to provide reasonable care
Reasonable care
Legal protection for healthcare workers if it can be proven that the worker acted reasonably as compared to other members of the profession in similar situations
Arbitration
Method of resolving disputes outside the courtroom
Assault
When words or actions make another person fear that they may be harmed
Battery
Refers to touching a person without permission
Abuse
Any action that results in physical or mental harm
Standard of care
Reasonable & prudent care that a practitioner of similar qualifications would have preformed in the same or similar situation
Statute of Limitations
The amount of time during which legal action can be taken
Scope of practice
Includes all of the skills that a healthcare worker is trained for and allowed to use
Confidentially
The practice of allowing only certain individuals the right to access information
HIPAA Privacy Rule
Sets national standards to protect individuals’ medical records also gives patients rights regarding their health information
When can doctors release patient information?
When authorities or courts may order the release of certain information
If the patient is a risk for immediate harm that can be prevented by releasing information
What should you do if you see unethical or illegal behavior?
Report the incident to a supervisor or someone in Human Resources
Informed consent
Patient has to know what could happen with signing something
Implied consent
Implied/willing to be treated without signing
Discrimination
The unjust or prejudicial acts towards a person or a group of people differently from one another
Defamation
The act of damaging someone’s good reputation
Ex: slander or libel
Libel
A written false statement that damages someone’s reputation
Slander
False statements said (verbal) to damage one’s reputation
