Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues Flashcards
Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient’s consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient.
Abandonment
Written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called living will or health care directive
Advanced Directive
The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct
Applied ethics
Unlawfully placing a patient in fear or bodily harm
Assault
Unlawfully touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent
Battery
The study of ethics related to issues that arise in healthcare
Bioethics
Disclosure of information without proper authorization
Breach of confidentiality
A process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meetings certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical patient care
Certification
The Damages awarded in a civil lawsuit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident
Compensatory damages
Able to make rational decisions about personal well-being
Competent
Permission to render care
Consent
A legal defense that may be raised when that defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff
Contributory negligence
In an established process to determine qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function as an organization
Credentialing
Ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care.
Decision-making capacity
The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person’s reputation or standing in the community
Defamation
Blood settling to the lowest Point of the body causing discoloration of the skin; a definitive sign of death
Dependent lividity
Oral questions asked of parties and witnesses Under oath
Dispositions
The phase of a civil lawsuit where the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the Attorneys to have a better understanding of the case and which will assist in negotiating a possible settlement or in preparing for trial. Discovery includes depositions, interrogatories and demands for production of records
Discovery
Written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel not to attempts resusciation in the event of caridac arrest
do not resuscitate (DNR) orders
A type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf, in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity
Durable power of attorney for health care
A medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statue or by function have a responsibility to provide care
Duty to act
A person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult.
Emancipated minors
A serious situation, such as injury or illness that threatens the life or welfare of a person or group of people and requires immediate intervention
Emergency
The principle of law that permits a health care provider to treat a patient in an emergency situation when the patient is incapable of granting consent because of an altered level of consciousness, disability, the effects of drugs or alcohol, or the patient’s age.
Emergency doctrine
