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MA CH02 H1E
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ethics | the knowledge of right and wrong. |
| law | a rule established to help people live peacefully together and to ensure order and safety. |
| advance directive | a legal document that allows people to decide what kind of medical care they wish to have in the event they are unable to make those decisions themselves. |
| Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) | a federal law requiring that medical practices and facilities provide patients with information about advance directives. |
| living will | a document that outlines specific medical care a person wants or does not want to receive; also known as directive to physicians and health care directive. |
| do not resuscitate (DNR) | a type of advance directive indicating that the patient does not wish a breathing tube to be inserted to prolong life. |
| do not intubate (DNI) | a type of advance directive indicating that the patient does not wish cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to be performed in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. |
| durable power of attorney for health care | a type of advance directive designated a person other than the patient to make medical decisions if the person becomes ill or disabled. |
| Physician’s Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) | a medical order that specifies the treatments a person wishes to receive when he is very ill; decisions are based on conversations between the patient and his healthcare providers |
| confidentiality | the legal and ethical principle of keeping private information private. |
| Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) | a federal law that requires health information be kept private and secure and that organizations take special steps to protect this information. |
| protected health information (PHI:) | a person’s private health information, which includes name, address, telephone number, social security number, email address, and medical record number. |
| Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) | a federal law banning discrimination in employment and healthcare coverage based on genetic information. |
| electronic health records (EHR) | an electronic version of a patient’s medical record that can be shared between healthcare organizations; includes information about all medical records |
| criminal law | branch of law dealing with offenses considered to harm all of society. |
| civil law | branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals. |
| compliance | in health care, a patient’s record of following the healthcare treatment plan and keeping appointments. |
| abandonment | in health care, failure of a practitioner to provide needed care to a patient with whom a patient-practitioner relationship has been established. |
| standard of care | the professional standard that must be met to deliver safe and effective patient care. |
| liable | legally responsible. |
| malpractice | in medicine, failure on the part of a provider to meet a professional standard of care; literal meaning is bad practice. |
| Good Samaritan Law | a law passed to protect individuals from liability when they provide medical aid, usually in an emergency situation. |
| negligence | actions, or the failure to act or provide the proper care, resulting in unintended injury to a person. |
| abuse | purposeful mistreatment that causes physical, mental, or emotional pain or injury to someone. |
| mandated reporter | person who is legally required to report suspected or observed abuse or neglect because they have regular contact with vulnerable populations. |
| arbitration | settlement of a lawsuit using a qualified person known as an arbiter to review the case and determine the outcome. |
| defendant | a person accused of wrongdoing, against whom a lawsuit is filed (civil) or charges made (criminal). |
| deposition | a statement given under oath to be used as evidence in a lawsuit. |
| mediation | settlement of a lawsuit using a qualified person called a mediator to review the case and negotiate the outcome. |
| plaintiff | a person who makes a charge of wrongdoing in court; the plaintiff has the burden of proof, or the responsibility to show that the defendant is liable for damages. |
| res ipsa loquitur | Latin phrase meaning the thing speaks for itself. Used when a patient’s injury is presented as evidence of medical negligence or wrongdoing. |
| respondeat superior | Latin term meaning let the master answer. Used to hold an employer liable for the actions of their employee. |
| risk management | actions taken to limit the risk of being sued, such as providing high-quality medical care and documenting carefully. |
| statute of limitations | a statute (law) that establishes the maximum amount of time after an event occurs that a lawsuit can be filed. |
| subpoena | a legal document that commands a person to appear in court to testify (subpoena ad testificandum) or to provide records or documents (subpoena duces tecum). |
| informed consent | active, conscious acknowledgement that a person understands treatment they will receive and agrees to receive it. |
| assault | the use of words or actions to cause another person to feel fearful of being harmed. |
| battery | the intentional touching of another person without permission. |
| emancipated minor | a person under 18 years of age who has been legally declared independent. |
| mature minor | in health care, a person under the age of 18 who is legally considered able to make routine healthcare decisions independently; mature minor laws vary by state. |
| implied consent | the assumption that a person agrees to treatment or to a procedure; allows medical treatment to be provided in emergency situations, for example, even if the patient is not able to express, informed consent. |
| compliance reporting | in health care, a general term referring to legally-required information-sharing. |
| wounds of violence | category of injury likely to have been inflicted in the course of a criminal act; must be reported to appropriate authorities. |
| communicable disease | a disease that is easily spread from one person to another; some communicable diseases must be reported to public health authorities, though requirements vary by state. |
| Sexually transmitted infection (STI) | an infection caused by sexual contact with an infected person; signs and symptoms are not always apparent. |
| neglect | failure to provide needed care that results in physical, mental, or emotional harm to a person. |
| exploitation | the act of taking advantage of a person for financial gain. |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | a federal government agency that issues guidelines to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities. |
| conflict of interest | a situation in which a person’s personal interests may interfere with their professional judgment or actions. |
| incident | an accident, problem, or unexpected event during the course of care that is not part of the normal routine in a healthcare facility. |
| sentinel event | an unexpected occurrence that results in grave physical or psychological injury or death. |