Principles of Nursing - Chapter 5 Key Terms

abuse

any care resulting in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish

advance directives

legal documents allowing patients to state what medical treatment they want

Agent

a person working under the directive or control of another person

Assault and battery 

assault includes a threat or attempt to injure. Battery includes the unlawful touching of another person without consent

civil law

focuses on the legal relationship between people and the protection of a person’s rights

confidentiality

information about a patient must stay private and can only be shared with members of the patient’s health care team

Consumer bill of rights and responsibilities

patients have the right to receive accurate, easily understood information, choice of healthcare provider, access to emergency services, make decisions related to their health, and not receive discrimination.

contract

an agreement between two or more parties

criminal law

focuses on behavior known as crime, deals with wrongs against a person, property, or society

defamation

when statements cause a person to be ridiculed, or ruin their reputation.

designation of healthcare surrogate

permits a principle to appoint another person to make any decisions regarding their healthcare

Durable power of Attorney

legal document that allows a person to designate a trusted agent to make medical and health care decisions for them if they become incapacitated.

Ethics

a set of principles relating to what is morally right or wrong

expressed consents 

obligations that are verbally expressed or written

false imprisonment

retraining an individual or restricting an individual’s freedom without authroization

health care records

considered privileged communication. contains information about care provided to a patient 

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

patient confidentiality, not allowing their caretakers to discuss any of the patient’s information without their consent

implied consent

obligations that are understood without verbal expression

invasion of privacy

physical- unnecessarily exposing an individual.
informational- personal information is shared without consent

legal

authorized or based on laws

legal disability

a person who does not have the legal capacity to form a contract

libel

written (mis)information about a person to harm their reputation

living wills

documents stating what measures should or shouldn’t be taken to prolong life when conditions are terminal

malpractice

failure of a professional to use the degree of skill and learning commonly expected in that individual’s profession, resulting in injury, loss, or damage to the person receiving care.

negligence

failure to give care that is normally expected of a person in a particular position, resulting in injury to another person

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

established minimum standards for care and resident rights in nursing homes, addressing concerns about quality of care

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

guarantees summary of insurance benefits, coverage for essential benefits, and preventative care for specific procedures.

Patient self determination act

A federal law mandating every individual haas the right to make decisions about their healthcare including the right to refuse treatment and the right to die.

Patients rights

factors of care that all patients can expect to receive

Privileged communications

All personal information given to healthcare personnel by a patient

Resident’s bill of rights

free choice regarding physician, treatment, care, participation, freedom from abuse, and chemical/ physical restraint

Scope of practice

Procedures, processes, and actions that healthcare professionals are legally permitted to perform in keeping with the terms of their professional license.or registration

Slander

spoken (mis)information that could harm another person’s reputation

Tort

a wrongful act that does not involve a contract