Ethical and Legal Implications Terms - Concepts

Advance Directives

a written statement of a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment.

Altruism

to do something, or take action, for the sake of benefiting someone else.

Autonomy

independence or freedom, ability to make one's own decisions.

Beneficence

doing good and acting in the best interest of a client by providing care that benefits them.

Code of Ethics

developed by the ANA, this document outlines rules for nurses about client privacy, nursing conduct, and nursing behaviors to protect clients and the profession.

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

ensures that all individuals, regardless of their insurance or financial status, have equal access to emergency medical care.

Ethical Decision Making

process of evaluating and choosing options in an ethically consistent manner using ethical principles.

Ethical Dilemmas

situation where a critical choice must be made, but the solution may not be ethically acceptable.

Fidelity

keeping promises or commitments.

Good Samaritan Laws

provides for protection from claims of negligence for those who provide care without expectation of payment.

HIPAA

legislation to protect insurance coverage and private information of clients. its purpose is to protect client privacy and personal health information for security breaches, particularly electronic data. established in 1996 to reduce fraud and deter inappropriate use of client health care information.

Human Dignity

implies that each individual, regardless of things such as race, religion, sex, gender, etc., has value and shall be respected simply because human beings are all equal.

Implied Consent

agreement by the client to the administration of care as demonstrated by the client’s actions rather than by formal verbal or written consent.

Informed Consent

formal permission granted with the knowledge of the possible consequences and alternatives.

Integrity

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

Just Culture

values-supportive model of shared accountability and mindfulness.

Nonmaleficence

doing no harm, or the least amount of harm to the client, while trying to achieve the best possible outcome.

Sentinel Event

an adverse event that should never occur.

Social Justice

change in health policy aimed at analysis and critique of social structures, laws, and customs that harm groups through exclusion. every person has the right to quality health care.

Standards of Practice

explanatory statements that describe a competent level of care for all nurses, using the critical thinking model known as the nursing process.

Standards of Professional Performance

defines competent behavior of all registered nurses where professional care is provided.

Tort

carrying out an act, or failing to carry out an act, which results in injury or harm to a client.

Veracity

telling the truth.

Whistleblowing

reporting private information about an organization's wrongdoing or illegal activity.

Accountability

a legal obligation with a moral and ethical commitment to do the right thing every time and in every situation.

Professionalism

embodies the actions, behaviors, and attitudes of an individual that are reflective of the core values, ethical principles, and regulatory guidelines of the professon.

Responsibility

an obligation to perform work, duties, or tasks using sound professional judgment.

Unprofessionalism

refers to conduct that does not adhere to the standards of practice or the code of ethics.