3. Patient Rights

Vocabulary flashcards covering key laws, concepts, and terminology from the Patient Rights & Informed Consent lecture.

Patient Rights

Legal and ethical entitlements that ensure fair, respectful, and nondiscriminatory health care for all individuals.

Informed Consent

Process in which a provider explains proposed interventions, benefits, risks, alternatives, and consequences of no treatment, allowing the patient to make an informed decision.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Foundational document affirming the inherent dignity and equal, inalienable rights of all people; basis for modern patient rights.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (1996)

U.S. law setting national standards for protection, privacy, and secure exchange of individually identifiable health information.

HIPAA Patient Right: Access

Right of individuals to view and obtain copies of their health information.

HIPAA Patient Right: Disclosure

Right to know when and to whom personal health information has been shared.

HIPAA Patient Right: Confidential Communications

Right to request specific means or locations for receiving health information privately.

HIPAA Patient Right: Restrictions

Right to request limits on who can view or use personal health records.

HIPAA Patient Right: Complaint

Right to file grievances if privacy rights are violated without fear of retaliation.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (2010)

Law expanding insurance coverage, prohibiting discrimination for pre-existing conditions, capping out-of-pocket costs, and permitting coverage of dependents to age 26.

Patient Bill of Rights (Advisory Commission, 1998)

Statement of rights and responsibilities designed to ensure fairness, promote patient involvement, and resolve health-care issues.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)

First U.S. civil-rights law banning disability discrimination in any program receiving federal funds.

Handicapped (Rehab Act Definition)

Person with a physical or mental impairment substantially limiting one or more major life activities, or regarded as having such an impairment.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975)

Mandated free and appropriate public education and individualized education plans (IEPs) for children with disabilities.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) (2004)

Current law ensuring early intervention (Part C) and special education services (Part B) for eligible children ages 0-21.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990; amended 2008)

Comprehensive civil-rights law prohibiting disability discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, telecommunications, and more.

Major Life Activities (ADA)

Basic tasks such as walking, seeing, hearing, learning, working, caring for oneself, etc., whose limitation can define a disability.

Major Bodily Functions (ADA)

Physiological functions—immune, neurological, respiratory, etc.—included in disability definition after 2008 amendments.

Title I (ADA): Employment

Prohibits employment discrimination; requires reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Essential Job Functions

Fundamental duties an employee must be able to perform—with or without accommodation—to be considered qualified.

Reasonable Accommodation

Modification or adjustment enabling a qualified employee with a disability to perform essential job functions without undue hardship to the employer.

Undue Hardship

Accommodation causing significant difficulty or expense relative to an employer’s resources, scope, and operations; not required under ADA.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Federal agency enforcing ADA Title I employment provisions.

Title II (ADA): Public Services

Bars disability discrimination in state and local government services, facilities, transportation, and digital content.

Title III (ADA): Public Accommodations

Requires private businesses open to the public to provide equal access, remove barriers when readily achievable, and allow service animals.

Readily Achievable

Barrier removal that is easily accomplishable without much difficulty or expense for the business.

Title IV (ADA): Telecommunications

Mandates functionally equivalent phone and internet services (e.g., TTY, TDD, TRS) for individuals with hearing or speech impairments.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

Operator-assisted system permitting real-time phone conversations between people with hearing/speech impairments and hearing individuals.

Person-First Language

Communication that emphasizes the individual before the disability (e.g., "person who uses a wheelchair" instead of "wheelchair-bound").

Inspiration Porn

Portraying people with disabilities as inspirational solely because of their disability; considered disrespectful and objectifying.

Patient Advocate (PT Role)

Physical therapist’s responsibility to identify barriers, support patient rights, and promote accessibility and respect.

COBRA (Continuation provision of HIPAA)

Safeguard allowing individuals to maintain employer-based health insurance coverage when changing or losing jobs.

Privacy Complaint Process

HIPAA mechanism enabling patients to report suspected violations to providers or the Office for Civil Rights.

Free Preventive Care (ACA)

ACA requirement that many insurance plans cover vaccines, screenings, and wellness visits without patient cost-sharing.

Accessible vs. Handicapped Language

Preferred terminology focusing on accommodation ("accessible bathroom") rather than disability status ("handicapped bathroom").

Elements of PT Informed Consent

Explanation, expected benefits, risks, alternatives, consequences of no treatment, and opportunity for questions.