Healtj Science

Legal

Authorized or based on law

Criminal law

Focuses on behavior known as crime; deals with the wrongs against a person, property, or Society

Civil law

Focuses on the legal relationships between people and the protection of a person's rights

Tort

A wrongful act that does not involve a contract

Malpractice

Failure to use the degree of skill and learning expected of a profession, resulting in injury, loss, or damage to a patient

Negligence

Failure to give care that is normally expected, resulting in injury to another person

Assault

includes a threat or attempt to injure

battery

includes the unlawful touching of another person without consent

Informed consent

Permission granted voluntarily by a person who is of sound mind and who has been instructed, in terms the person can understand, about all the risks involved

Invasion of privacy

Revealing personal information about an individual without their consent

False imprisonment

Restraining an individual or restricting an individual's freedom without authorization

abuse

Any care that results in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish

Defamation

Occurs when false statements either cause a person to be ridiculed or damage the person's reputation

Slander

Spoken comment that causes a person ridicule or contempt or damages the person’s reputation

Libel

False written statement that causes a person ridicule or contempt or causes damage to the person’s reputation

contract

An agreement between two or more parties

Implied consents

Those obligations that are understood without verbally expressed terms

Expressed consents

Stated in distinct and clear language, either orally or in writing

Legal disability

A condition in which a person does not have legal capacity and is therefore unable to enter into a legal agreement (for example, as is the case with a minor)

Agent

Someone who has the power or authority to act as the representative of another

Privileged communications

All personal information given to health personnel by a patient; must be kept confidential

Health care records

Records contain information about the care provided to the patient Health Insurance Portability and Accountability

HIPAA

Set of federal regulations adopted to protect the confidentiality of patient information and the ability to retain health insurance coverage

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

A digital version of a paper chart for a single clinic or practice. It doesn't easily leave that office.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

A comprehensive record designed to travel with the patient across multiple doctors, hospitals, and specialists for complete care coordination.

Electronic Health System

The entire IT infrastructure (hardware, software, networks, and databases) that powers a healthcare organization, rather than a single patient chart.