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EMT Course > Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues > Flashcards

Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues Flashcards

1
Q

Abandonment

A

Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patients consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the necessary skills and training to mess the needs of the patient

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2
Q

Advance directive

A

Written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; living will or health care directive

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3
Q

Applied ethics

A

The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct

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4
Q

Assault

A

Unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm

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5
Q

Battery

A

Unlawfully touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent

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6
Q

Bioethics

A

The study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care

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7
Q

Breach of confidentiality

A

Disclosure of information without the proper authorization

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8
Q

Certification

A

A process in which a person is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care

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9
Q

Compensatory damages

A

Damages awarded in a civil lawsuit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was prior to the incident

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10
Q

Competent

A

Able to make rational decisions about personnel well-being

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11
Q

Consent

A

Permission to render care

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12
Q

Contributory negligence

A

A legal defense that may be raised when the defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff

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13
Q

Credentialing

A

An established process to determine the qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function as an organization

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14
Q

Decision-making capacity

A

Ability to understand and process information and make a choice regular sing appropriate medical care

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15
Q

Defamation

A

The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that persons reputation or standing in the community (slander or libel)

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16
Q

Dependent lividity

A

Blood settling to the lowest part of the body causing decolorationdiscoloration of the skin; sign of death

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17
Q

Depositions

A

Oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath

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18
Q

Discovery

A

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. Includes depositions, interrogations, and demands for production of documents.

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19
Q

DNR

A

Do not resuscitate order; written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel not to attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest

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20
Q

Durable power of attorney for health care

A

A type advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf, in event that person loses decision-making capacity

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21
Q

Duty to act

A

A medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care

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22
Q

Emancipated minors

A

A person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult

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23
Q

Emergency

A

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

24
Q

Emergency doctrine

A

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, drugs or alcohol, or age

25
Emergency medical care
Immediate care or treatment
26
Ethics
The philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and ideal professional behavior
27
Expressed consent
A type of consent in which a patient gives verbal or nonverbal authorization for provision of care or transport
28
False imprisonment
The confinement of a person without legal authority or the persons consent
29
Forcible restraint
The act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action
30
Good Samaritan Laws
Statutory provisions enacted by many states to protect citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good faith emergency care, unless there is wanton, gross, or willful negligence
31
Governmental immunity
Legal doctrine that can protect an EMS provider from being sued or which may limit the amount of monetary judgement that the plaintiff may recover; genre rally applies only to EMS systems that are operated by municipalities or other governmental entities
32
Gross negligence
Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care
33
Health-care directive
A written document that specifies treatment for a competent patient should he or she become unable to make decisions; advance directive or living will
34
Health care proxies
A type of advanced 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; also known as durable power of attorney for health care
35
Implied consent
Type of consent in which patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment
36
Informed consent
Permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained
37
In loco parentis
Refers to the legal responsibility or a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent
38
Interrogatories
Written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one another
39
Kidnapping
The seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force, including transporting a competent adult for medical treatment without his or her consent
40
Libel
False and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing
41
Licensure
The process whereby a competent authority; usually the state, allows people to preform a regulated act
42
Medicolegal
A term relating to medical jurisprudence (law) or forensic medicine
43
Morality
A code of conduct that can be defined by society, religion, or a person, affecting character, conduct, and conscience
44
Negligence
Failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide
45
Negligence per se
A theory that may be used when the conduct of a person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statute
46
Patient autonomy
The right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care
47
PHI
Protected health information; any information about health status, provisions of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patients medical record or payment history
48
Proximate causation
When a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual, EMT, the agency, and/or the medical director may be sued for negligence
49
Punitive damages
Damages that are sometimes awarded in civil lawsuit when the conduct of the defendant was intentional or constituted a reckless disregard for the safety of the public
50
Putrefaction
Decomposition of body tissues; sign of death usually 40-96 hours after death
51
Res ipsa loquitor
When EMT or an EMS system is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred
52
Rigor mortis
Stiffening of body muscles; a sign of death
53
Scope of practice
Most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care that the EMT is able to provide to the patient
54
Slander
Form of defamation; false and damaging information that is communicated by the spoken word
55
Standard of care
Written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to unreasonable risks or harm
56
Statute of limitations
The time in which a case must be commenced
57
Tort
A wrongful act that gives rise to a civil lawsuit

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