U.S. Health-Care Law, Ethics, and Patient Rights – Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary flashcards covering major U.S. health-care laws, ethical principles, patient rights, consent types, negligence elements, and workplace safety topics as presented in the lecture notes.

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47 Terms

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Patient’s Bill of Rights

Statement of 15 guarantees designed to protect patients and clarify the rights and responsibilities of both patients and health-care providers.

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Medical Law

Body of laws that outline the legal rights and responsibilities of medical providers and patients.

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Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, “Obamacare”)

2010 health-care reform law aimed at expanding affordable insurance coverage, improving quality, and restraining costs.

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HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)

Federal law that sets national standards to protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information.

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HITECH Act

Law that strengthens HIPAA by increasing enforcement and extending privacy/security regulations to electronic health information and business associates.

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OSH Act (Occupational Safety and Health Act)

Law overseen by OSHA requiring employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace through enforceable standards.

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OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Federal agency that enforces workplace safety and health standards under the OSH Act.

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CSA (Controlled Substances Act)

Federal statute that classifies regulated drugs into five schedules based on potential for abuse and medical use.

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EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act)

Law requiring hospital emergency departments that accept federal funds to provide appropriate medical screening and stabilizing treatment to anyone seeking care.

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CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988)

Federal standards that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States.

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Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits employers with 15 + employees from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

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ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)

Law that forbids discrimination in employment and public accommodations on the basis of disability.

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HERCA

Association of European authorities that identifies radiation-protection issues and proposes solutions.

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Good Samaritan Acts

Laws shielding bystanders who voluntarily assist in emergencies from liability if unintended harm occurs.

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GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008)

Law prohibiting discrimination by employers and health insurers based on genetic information.

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PSQIA (Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act)

Framework for collecting and analyzing patient-safety data while protecting the confidentiality of reported information.

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Anti-Kickback Statute (AKBS)

Federal criminal law prohibiting remuneration for referrals or business involving federal health-care programs.

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No Surprise Act (NSA)

Law protecting patients with group or individual plans from unexpected out-of-network medical bills.

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Subpoena duces tecum

Court order requiring a person to bring specified documents or records to a legal proceeding.

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Administrative Safeguards (HIPAA)

Policies and procedures such as appointing a security officer or conducting internal audits to protect health information.

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Physical Safeguards (HIPAA)

Measures like double-lock systems and secured workstations that physically protect patient records.

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Technical Safeguards (HIPAA)

Technology controls—e.g., firewalls and encryption—used to secure electronic protected health information.

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Malpractice

Professional negligence; medical treatment that falls below accepted standards and harms a patient.

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Tort

A wrongful act, whether intentional or negligent, that causes harm to another and is actionable in civil court.

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Implied Consent

Permission inferred from a patient’s actions, position, or the circumstances, rather than explicit words.

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Expressed Consent

Consent given verbally or in writing, such as a patient verbally agreeing to an injection.

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Informed Consent

Oral or written agreement after the patient receives complete information about the procedure, risks, and alternatives.

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Autonomy

The patient’s capacity and right to think, decide, and act freely regarding their health care.

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Negligence

Failure to provide adequate, appropriate care, resulting in patient harm.

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Advance Directives

Written statements of a person’s wishes for medical treatment, such as a living will.

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Do-Not-Resuscitate Order (DNR)

Instruction that CPR or advanced cardiac life support should not be performed if breathing or heartbeat stops.

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Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA)

Legal document appointing a proxy to make medical decisions if the patient becomes incapacitated.

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POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)

Medical order guiding emergency and end-of-life treatments for seriously ill or frail patients.

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Intentional Tort

Deliberate act violating another’s rights; examples include assault, battery, defamation, invasion of privacy.

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Assault (Medical Context)

Threat or attempt to touch a patient without consent, causing fear of harm.

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Battery (Medical Context)

Intentional, unauthorized physical contact with a patient.

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Defamation of Character

False communication that harms a person’s reputation; libel (written) or slander (spoken).

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Invasion of Privacy

Unlawful disclosure of private information or intrusion into a patient’s personal affairs.

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Duty of Care

Legal obligation of health professionals to adhere to a standard of reasonable care.

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Dereliction of Duty

Breach or failure to fulfill the duty of care.

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Direct Cause

Link between the breach of duty and the injury suffered by the patient.

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Damages

Monetary compensation awarded for harm caused by negligence or misconduct.

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Types of Abuse

Categories include physical, verbal/emotional, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse.

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Mandatory Reporters

Professionals legally required to report suspected abuse—e.g., health-care workers, childcare providers, social workers, law enforcement.

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Justice (Ethics)

Ethical principle of fair distribution of benefits, risks, resources, and costs.

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Beneficence

Ethical duty to act in the best interest of others and promote good.

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Nonmaleficence

Ethical commitment to avoid causing harm to patients.