PHS VOCAB

Medical/Durable Power of Attorney

a type of advanced medical directive in which legal documents provide the power of attorney to another person in the case of an incapacitating medical condition

Advance Directive (Living Will)

a will in which the signer requests not to be kept alive by medical life-support systems in the event of terminal illness

Continuity of Care

process by which the patient and the physician are cooperatively involved in ongoing health care management

Ombudsman

a social worker, nurse, or trained volunteer who ensures that patients are properly cared for and respected

Licensure

process by which a gov't agency or other authority gives permission to a person or health care to a person or health care org. to operate of work in a profession

Certifications

a process by which an individual is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined criteria and

Registration

list of individuals on an official record who meet the qualifications for an occupation.

Relevant

pertaining to, or having to do with, the pt/client

Written Consent

a person knowingly without duress or coercion, clearly, and explicitly consents to the proposed therapy in writing

HIPPA(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

a law that includes requlations ensuring the privacy of patient information

Exempt

to be free or released from some liability or requirement to which others are subject

Contracts

a legally binding exchange of promises or an agreement between parties that the law will enforce

Principal

first or among the first in importance or rank

Implied Contracts

contracts in which some terms aren't specifically stated, but are understood by the parties based on the nature of the transaction

Expressed Contracts

contracts in which terms are written out in the document

Agent

a person or business authorized to act an another’s behalf

DNR

do not resuscitate; pt will not be put on any life support

Legal Disability

a person has a disability for legal purposes if he or she has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities

Minor

under legal age of full responsibility

Criminal Law

body of law that defines criminal offenses; deals w/ the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected persons; and sets penalties applicable to convicted offenders

Civil Law

the body of law governing certain relationships between ppl, such as marriage, contracts, and torts

Tort

injury

Prudent

careful or cautious

Scope of Practice

a legal set directives developed by a state board that governs practice for a health care professional

Malpractice

failure of a professional person, such as a physician, to render proper services thru ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows

Liable

legally responsible

Diagnosis

identification of medical condition

Informed Consent

the legal condition in which a person agrees to terms, after he or she understands all the facts and implications of an action or event

Resultant

resulting

Defamatory

statement that causes injury to another’s reputation

Misrepresentations

untruths;lies

Obligation

moral responsibilty

Assault

a threat or an attempt to injure another person

Battery

the unlawful touching of another person without his or her consent, with or without resultant injury

Felony

a serious criminal offense that carries a penalty of imprisonment for more than one year and possibly the death penalty

Harassment

any verbal an physical abuse of a person because of race, religion, age, gender, or disability

Libel

writing untrue matters that is defamatory about an individual or group to a third party

Slander

a spoken statement of false chargers or misrepresentations that defame or damage another's reputation

False Imprisonment

a civil tort in which a person is held on retained against his or her will

Invasion of Privacy

a civil tort that unlawfully makes public knowledge of any private or personal into without the consent of the wronged person

Negligence

failure to perform in a reasonably prudent manner

Sexual Harassment

unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal and physical contact of sexual nature

Misdemeanor

a minor crime