Law and Ethics + First Aid

Agent

a person who acts or does business for another

Assault

threat or attempt to injure

Battery

unlawful touching of another person without consent

Civil Law

A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

Confidentiality

the act of holding information in confidence, not to be released to unauthorized individuals

Defamation

the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel.

Ethics

the principles of right and wrong that guide an individual in making decisions

Implied consent

Type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment.

Informed consent

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Liability

(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous

Negligence

careless neglect, often resulting in injury

Malpractice proxy

A legal document in which one appoints a "healthcare agent" to make medical decisions should that person be unable to do so because of either injury or illness.

Tort

a wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability.

Slander

the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of patient-specific health care information and providing the patient with control over how this information is used and distributed.

Autograft

transplantation of healthy tissue from one site to another site in the same individual

Homograft

skin transplant taken from another member of the patient's species

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a government agency in the Department of Labor to maintain a safe and healthy work environment

Felony

a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death.

Good Samaritan Act

was developed to protect healthcare professionals from liability of any civil damages as a result of rendering emergency care

Allegation

an assertion made with little or no proof

Statue of Limitations

refers to a the period of time during which a patient may file a suit.

Health care proxy

a person chosen by another person to make medical decisions if the second person becomes unable to do so

Misdemeanor

(n.) a crime or offense that is less serious than a felony; any minor misbehavior or misconduct

Respondent superior

Responsibility of an employer for the acts of an employee

Res ispa loquitor

"the thing speaks for itself", refers to "must have been" situations

Abrasion

Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive

Amputation

partial or complete removal of a limb

Avulsion

An injury in which soft tissue is torn completely loose or is hanging as a flap.

Burn

To destroy tissue because of hot surfaces

Bandage

a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body

Carcinogen

A cancer-causing substance

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Cerebrovascular Accident

disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke

Complete/partial airway obstruction

blockage of airway

Convulsion

violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness)

Crash cart

wheeled cart that contains emergency medical equipment

Cyanotic

pertaining to a blue or purple discoloration due to deoxygenated blood

Diabetic coma

A loss of consciousness due to uncontrolled diabetes and the buildup of ketones in the blood.

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

Dislocation

displacement of a bone from its joint

Dressing

protective covering placed over a wound

Fainting

syncope

First aid

the immediate, temporary care given to an ill or injured person until professional medical care can be provided

Fracture

to break (a bone)

Frostbite

damage to the skin and tissues caused by extreme cold

Heart attack

a condition in which blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing heart cells to die

Heat cramps

muscle spasms that result from a loss of large amounts of salt and water through perspiration

Heat exhaustion

a form of physical stress on the body caused by overheating

Heat stroke

a condition marked by fever and often by unconsciousness, caused by failure of the body's temperature-regulating mechanism when exposed to excessively high temperatures.

Hematoma

a solid swelling of clotted blood within the tissues.

Hemorrhage

Excessive or profuse bleeding

Hypoglycemia

low blood sugar

Hyperglycemia

high blood sugar

Hypothermia

abnormally low body temperature

Incision

A cut made in order to get inside something

Infection

Contamination or invasion of body tissue by pathogenic organisms

Insulin shock

the result of too much insulin which causes a dangerous drop in blood glucose.

Laceration

a cut, tear

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheet

Poisoning

Condition that occurs when contact is made with any chemical substance that causes injury, illness, or death.

Puncture

a small hole made by a sharp object

Shock

A condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to enable every body part to perform its function; also called hypoperfusion.

Sprain

injury to tissues surrounding a joint

Strain

A condition resulting from damaging a muscle or tendon

Syncope

"Passing out", loss of consciousness or fainting

Triage

the medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment

Wound

A break in the skin or mucous membrane