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Medical Ast Chpt 3
Ethics and Law for medical office
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| abandonment | Failure to continue to provide medical care to a patient without proper notification. |
| act | a bill or measure that has become a law. often refers to legislation with several parts. |
| advocate | A person who intercedes on another persons behalf |
| arbitration | a formal process whereby the parties to a dispute agree to submit to the decision of a neutral party. |
| assumption of risk | A defense to a lawsuit that establishes that the plaintiff assumed the risk of whatever caused the injury. |
| autonomy | ability to make independent decisions without constraint or coercion by others. |
| beneficence | acting in the best possible way. Preforming good deeds. |
| bill | a law proposed by a legislative body |
| case law | law established by decisions of previous court cases. |
| civil law | law the regulates relationships and interactions between individuals and groups. |
| cloning | producing genetically identical cells or individuals artificially |
| common law | unwritten body of law based on general custom |
| comparative negligence | a defense to a lawsuit that establishes any responsibility for injury on the part of he plaintiff |
| controlled substance | A drug that has the potential of becoming an addiction or abuse. |
| crime | An offense in violation of a law that prohibits or requires certain behavior. |
| criminal law | Law that regulates offenses against public welfare |
| defendant | The person or group against which an action is brought in the court of law. |
| Deposition | Testimony given under the Oath to an officer of the court before trial. |
| Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) | A medical order signed by a physician that relieves health care personnel from the obligation to resuscitate a patient who stops breathing or whose heart stops. |
| Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) | The federal agency that enforces the control substances act of 1970 |
| duty | Commitment to act in a certain way. |
| emancipated minor | A person younger than 18 with the rights of an adult including the ability to consent to medical care. |
| Embezzlement | Fraudulent appropriation of funds or property of an employer or client. |
| Ethics | The branch of knowledge that deals with standards of behaviors and beliefs. |
| Felony | A serious crime punishable by death or imprisonment. |
| Fidelity | Faithfulness |
| Fraud | Intentional deception resulting in injury or loss. |
| Gene therapy | Giving patients new genes or parts of genes to treat a disease or condition. |
| Genetic engineering | Making, altering, or repairing genetic material. |
| Health care proxy | A legal document that names an agent to make decisions about a person's medical care if he or she become unable to make wishes known. |
| Informed consent | Agreement to a medical procedure based on understanding of the procedures and its possible consequences and effects. |
| Larceny | Stealing another person's property or money without violence. |
| Liability | Legal responsibility |
| License | Official permission to preform an activity or practice a profession. |
| Licensure | The process by which the state examines qualifications and gives permission to an individual or organization to engage in a profession or business. |
| Litigation | The process of taking a lawsuit to court. |
| Living will | A legal document that specifies the kind of medical treatment a patient wants or does not want if he or she becomes incapacitated. |
| Malfeasance | A crime or wrongdoing that is illegal or contrary to official obligation. |
| Malpractice | Negligence by a professional. |
| Mature Minor | An individual younger than 18 with the maturity to provide informed consent for certain medical procedures. |
| Mediation | Negotiation by a third party to help two parties resolve a dispute. |
| Medical durable power of an attorney | A written authorization to make health care decisions for a specified individual that is in effect if the individual becomes incapacitated. |
| Misdemeanor | A less serious crime, punishable by a fine or imprisonment for less than a year. |
| Misfeasance | Preforming a legal act in an improper way. |
| Negligence | Failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances. |
| Nonfeasance | Failing to preform an act that should have been preformed, resulting in injury. |
| Nonmalfeasance | Ethical concept requiring that an action do no harm, or do less harm than good. |
| Plaintiff | The person or group that makes the complaint in a lawsuit. |
| Prescription | An honor to a pharmacist to dispense a supply of a medication. |
| Privilege | A special immunity that protects against legal liability. |
| Prudent | Using care or common sense. |
| Reciprocity | Automatic issuing of a license in one state to the holder of a license in another state. |
| Res ipsa loquitur | A legal doctrine that assumes negligence because of the type of injury. |
| Respondeat superior | A legal doctrine making an employer liable for the negligent act of employees. |
| Right | A claim that is expected to be honored. |
| Standard of care | level of appropriate care required of a health professional. |
| Statue of limitations | A law limiting time period for beginning a lawsuit. |
| Statutory law | law enacted by a legislative body. |
| Stem cells | cells that have the capacity to develop into various types of body tissue. |
| Subpoena | A court order for a witness to appear and give a testimony. |
| Subpoena duces tecum | A court order to produce documents or records. |
| Tort | An injury or wrong against a person or property that does not involve breach of contract. |
| Veracity | Truthfulness |