Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues (Chapter 4) Flashcards
Abandonment
Leaving patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
Advance Directive
A DNR order; instructions written in advance of an event.
Assault
Placing a person in fear of bodily harm.
Battery
Causing bodily harm to or restraining a person.
Confidentiality
The obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health care professionals involved in the patient’s care, or under subpoena, or in a court of law, or when the patient has signed a release confidentiality.
Consent
Permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT.
Crime Scene
The location where a crime has been committed or any place that evidence relating to a crime may be found.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
A legal document, usually signed by the patient and his physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts.
Duty to Act
An obligation to provide care to a patient.
Ethical
Regarding a social system or social or professional exceptions for applying principles of right and wrong.
Expressed Concent
Consent given by adults who are of legal age and mentally competent to make a rational decision in regard to their medical well-being.
Good Samaritan Laws
A series of laws, varying in each state, designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administering emergency care.
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of patient-specific health care information and providing the patient with control over how this information is used and distributed.
