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Pt. Rights & Ethics
Patient Rights, Confidentiality & Ethical Issues
Question | Answer |
---|---|
What are the principles of confidentiality based on? | The Hippocratic Oath. (Pg 82 Egan's) |
What does the Hippocratic Oath obligate health care providers to do for patients? | It obligates them to respect the secrets that patients confide in them even after the patient has died. (Pg 82 Egan's) |
Are there any ethical issues surrounding confidentiality? | Yes, the main ethical issue regarding confidentiality is whether more harm is done by occasionally violating it's mandate or by upholding it, regardless of the consequences. (Pg 82Egan's) |
What is the Harm Principle? | It is the principle that requires the practitioner to refrain from acts or omissions that may harm others or could result in putting the public at risk. (Pg 82 Egan's) |
Are there any exceptions to the Harm Principle? | Yes, In the case that a doctor is aware of a patient that has contracted AIDS and is planning to be married, the confidentiality would have to be broken due to the health risk and vulnerability of the future spouse. (Pg 82 Egan's) |
Under the requirements of public health and community welfare, are there any situations that would call for a breach of confidentiality? | Yes, child abuse,poisoning,industrial accidents, communicable diseases, blood transfusion reactions,narcotic use and injuries caused with knives or guns.(Pg 82 Egan's) |
In the case of suspected child abuse, if the practitioner doesn't report it are there any legal repercussions? If so what are they? | Yes, failure to report child abuse can leave the practitioner legally liable for any additional injuries that the child may sustain after being returned to the hostile environment. (Pg 82 Egan's) |
Mini Clinical: A friend calls and tells you that her boyfriend has been admitted to the hospital where you work.She asks you if you could look at his record and tell her why he is being treated. Can you tell her?Is this an ethical or legal issue or both? | As a health care provider this would be a direct act against you work ethics and a violation of the Hippocratic Oath.This is also a violation of patient's legal right to confidential medical treatment.(Pg 83 Egan's) |
What are reciprocal patient rights? | They include the right to autonomous choice, the right to remain free from harm and the right to fair equitable treatment.(Pg. 80 Egan's) |
What is non-maleficence? | It is a principle that obligates health care providers to avoid harming patients and prevent harm when possible.(Pg 81 Egan's) |
Why is non-maleficence at times difficult to uphold? | In some cases the medication or procedure hat is used to treat the patient may have a double effect. The first intent in treatment is good but a secondary effect may occur that could possibly cause harm. This is viewed as an unintended result.pg 81 Egan |
Define a Tort. | A Tort is a civil wrong other than breach of contract committed against an individual or property for which the court provides a solution in the form of action or damages. (Pg 86 Egan) |
What is the difference between slander and libel? | Slander is verbal defamation of an individual by false words that damage the persons reputation. Libel is printed defamation that causes the person to be avoided or held in contempt.(Pg 87 Egan's) |
What is the professional code of ethics? | These are guidelines established to identify ideal behavior parameters by members of a professional group. (Pg 91 Egan's) |
What do traditional ethical principles include? | Autonomy,beneficence,confidentiality,the role of fidelity,justice,non-malfeasance,and veracity.(Pg. 91 Egan's) |
What information is needed before an ethical decision is made? | Prior to making an ethical decision the problem or issue, those involved, the ethical principle that applies,determination of who should make the decision, and the role of the practitioner need to be known.(Pg 91 Egan's) |
What is the difference between assault and battery? | Assault is the verbal threat to physically harm another person. Battery is the act of unwanted physical contact with another person. (Pg 88 Egan's) |
What is the basic goal of the Privacy Rule? | The rule is to protect all "individually identifiable health information" also referred to as (PHI) protected health information. This includes charts,faxes,emails or other records.(Pg 89 Egan's) |
What conditions need to be met in order for a physician to assume liability for a respiratory therapists wrongful actions? | The act must occur in the course of employer- employee relationships,the act must be within the scope of employment, and the injury caused must be the result of an act of negligence. (Pg. 89 Egan's) |
What is the Good Samaritan Law? | This is a law that protects citizen from criminal liability for any errors made while attempting to give emergency aid to some one in need. (Pg.90 Egan's) |