Ethical and Legal Issues in Patient Care – Key Vocabulary

Thirty-five vocabulary flashcards to reinforce essential ethical and legal terminology for nursing students preparing for Chapter 16.

Ethics

The study of principles of right and wrong, good and bad, guiding human conduct.

Bioethics

Branch of ethics that focuses on moral issues in health care and life sciences.

Beneficence

Ethical principle requiring actions that promote good and protect patient welfare.

Nonmaleficence

Obligation to do no harm and prevent harm in health care practice.

Justice

Fairness; ensuring individuals receive what they are owed, including equal and culturally competent care for all.

Autonomy

Respect for a person’s right to self-determination and independent choice.

Fidelity

Duty to keep promises and remain faithful to commitments.

Veracity

Obligation to tell the truth and disclose errors promptly.

Patient Self-Determination Act

Federal law affirming patients’ rights to make prospective decisions about their health care.

Utilitarianism

Ethical theory favoring actions that produce the greatest good for the greatest number.

Teleology (Consequentialism)

Theory judging an action by its outcomes; “all’s well that ends well.”

Deontology (Formalism)

Ethical view that an act is moral only if rooted in good will, regardless of outcome (duty-based).

ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses

American Nurses Association guidelines outlining nurses’ ethical duties and values.

ICN

International Council of Nurses’ global ethical framework for nursing practice.

Advance Directive

Written statement of a person’s medical wishes in case of future incapacity.

Living Will

An advance directive specifying desired life-sustaining treatments and end-of-life care if terminally ill.

Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) for Health Care

Legal designation of surrogate decision-maker.

Health Care Proxy

Designated person authorized to make health care decisions for an incapacitated patient.

POLST

Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment; portable medical order reflecting patient wishes.

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR)

Physician’s order directing no CPR if the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Organ Procurement Organization (OPO)

Federally designated agency authorized to recover and allocate donated organs.

Futility of Care

Situation where continued treatment offers no reasonable benefit to the patient.

Corporate Compliance

Hospital program ensuring adherence to laws, regulations, and ethical standards of care.

Nurse Practice Act (NPA)

State law that defines nursing scope, education, licensure, and disciplinary authority.

State Board of Nursing

Regulatory body that licenses nurses and enforces each state’s Nurse Practice Act.

Malpractice

Misconduct or lack of skill while carrying out professional duties

Negligence

Failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would, causing potential or actual harm.

Tort Law

Area of law addressing civil wrongs that cause harm, including intentional and unintentional acts.

Assault

Intentional act causing a person to fear imminent harmful or offensive contact.

Battery

Intentional, unauthorized physical contact that is harmful or offensive.

Good Samaritan Laws

Statutes protecting individuals who give emergency aid from liability for ordinary negligence.

Informed Consent

Process ensuring a patient understands and voluntarily agrees to a proposed treatment.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Committee that reviews research to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects.

Incident Report

Internal document that objectively records details of an adverse event for risk management.

F-L-A-T Charting

Documentation standard requiring records to be Factual, Legible, Accurate, and Timely.

Beneficence

Strict adherence to infection-control protocols for every patient is an example of what ethical principle?

Maintain competence and practice within scope

How do you prevent harm and honor nonmaleficence?

Autonomy

Informed consent embodies which ethical principle?

Refuse care or leave AMA

The PSDA states that if an individual is competent, they may..?

Utilitarianism

“Mandatory treatment of infectious TB protects public health” is an example of what ethical theory?

ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses

Primary responsibility to people needing nurse care where actions are guided by social values & global needs; accountable for own practice and standards development.

Internet solicitation for organs, organ purchasing/market systems, and allocation priorities

What are ethical controversies for organ donation?

Patient Care Partnership (AHA)

Educates patients on rights & responsibilities

Duty, breach of duty, foreseeability/causation, injury/harm, and damages

What are the five legal elements of malpractice?

Duty

Automatic once nurse-patient relationship exists

Breach of Duty

Act/omission outside standard of care

Foreseeability/Causation

Breach directly caused injury

Injury/Harm

Physical, emotional, financial damage

Damages

Monetary compensation for patient loss

Unintentional

Negligence and malpractice are examples of which form of Tort Law?

Intentional

Assault, battery, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, and defamation are examples of which form of Tort Law?

False Imprisonment

Unlawful restraint or detaining competent patient

Information, competence, voluntariness

List the three legal elements of informed consent

Information

Risks, benefits, alternatives explained

Competence

Patient (or proxy) can understand & decide

Voluntariness

Free of coercion; may withdraw anytime

Witness signature, advocate for understanding, and notify provider of concerns

What is the nurse’s role in informed consent?