NM 111 - Ch. 5 Professional Roles and Behaviors

Health

A state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and being healthy implies that you are capable of promoting health.

Self-actualization

The state in which a person welcomes tension and effort as a stimulus to creativity and self-expression.

Empathy

A sensitivity to others that allows you to meet their needs constructively rather than merely sympathizing or reacting to their distress.

Burnout

A response to the strain of dealing with the constant demands and problems of people under our care.

Personal Morality

Based on the lessons of right and wrong that were taught to us at an early age.

Societal Morality

The beliefs that we share with our community about values and duties that influences the laws, customs, and moral components of our culture.

Group Morality

The moral principles that apply specifically to certain groups of people.

Ethics

A branch of philosophy that can be defined as a systemic reflection on morality.

ARRT Code of Ethics: Third Principle

Requires radiographers to put aside all personal prejudice and emotional bias when rendering professional services.

ARRT Code of Ethics: Fifth Principle

Addresses the issue of professional responsibility, implying that radiographers are truly professional because they are sufficiently educated and experienced to be capable of independent discretion and judgment.

ARRT Code of Ethics: Seventh Principle

Requires radiographers to adhere to accepted practices and make every effort to protect themselves and all patients and staff from unnecessary exposure to radiation.

ARRT Code of Ethics: Ninth Principle

Relates to confidentiality in a health care setting, one of the cardinal concepts in all code of ethics relating to health care.

Ethical Analysis

A method of evaluating situations in which the correct action is in question

What are the 4 basic steps to ethical analysis?

1. Identifying the problem

2. Developing alternate solutions

3. Selecting the best solution

   1. Defending your selection

Moral Agent

Person responsible for implementing the ethical decision.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Enacted in 2003, meant to protect the privacy rights of patients by requiring hospitals to provide protection for patients concerning the release of individual financial and medical information without their written consent.

Informed Consent

Require that the patient receive a full explanation of the procedure and its potential risks and benefits, as well as the possible outcomes of not having the procedure done.

Advance Directive

An outline of specific wishes about the medical care to be given in the event that the individual loses the ability to make or communicate decisions.

Personal Representative (Power of Attorney)

A trusted person to act on the patients behalf if and when the patient is unable to communicate his or her wishes.

Felony

A serious crime, violent or nonviolent that can lead to death or imprisonment longer than a year.

Misdemeanor

Less significant crime that can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment for less than a year, jail time, probation, or community service.

Tort

A civil wrong committed by one individual against the person or property of another.

Plantiff

Suing party.

Defendant

Party being sued.

False Imprisonment

Unjustifiable detention of a person against his or her will.

Libel (Slander)

Refers to the malicious spreading of information that causes defamation of the character or loss of reputation.

Assault

The threat of touching in an injurious way.

Person does not need to be touched in a way for assault to occur.

Battery

Unlawful touching of a person without consent.

Negligence (Malpractice)

Refers to the neglect or omission of reasonable care or cation.

Gross Negligence

A negligent act that involves “reckless disregard for life or limb”.

Contributory Negligence

An act of negligence in which the behavior of the injured party contributed to the injury.

Corporate Negligence

When the hospital as an entity is negligent.

Res Ipsa Loquitur

Meaning “the thing that speaks for itself.”

Doctrine is sometimes applied when negligence and loss are so apparent that they would be obvious to anyone.

Respondeat superior

Legal doctrine that means “let the master respond.”

Employer is liable for employees’ negligent acts that occur in the course of their work.

Vicarious Liability

Liability by one person or agency for the actions of another.

Radiology Information Management System (RIMS)

Information system of the radiology department that allows the technologist access to pertinent information about a patient.

Allows for ordering and billing of imaging examinations.

Chart

Extensive compilation of information regarding a patient.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

Digital format of patient medical records.

Charting

Process of adding information to a chart that will be incorporated into a chart.