CCM150 Chapter 8 – Ethical Communication Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from Chapter 8 of CCM150: Ethical Communication for health professionals.

Ethics

The study of principles that govern proper conduct and action, distinguishing right from wrong.

Moral Quality

Behavior or activity that falls within accepted codes of conduct.

Conflict of Interest

A situation in which professional loyalties clash with outside interests, undermining credibility.

Rights Ethics

Theory that moral judgments rest on respecting fundamental rights such as life, property, and privacy.

Utilitarian Ethics

Theory that ethical actions create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Virtue Ethics

Theory that emphasizes cultivating positive character traits (virtues) and avoiding negative ones (vices).

Golden Mean

Virtue-ethics concept describing a desirable middle ground between excess and deficiency.

Golden Rule

Universal ethical principle of treating others as you would like to be treated.

Intercultural Ethics

Applying ethical principles across cultures while respecting differing laws, values, and social norms.

Code of Ethics

A formal document outlining an organization’s or profession’s ethical standards and expectations.

Quality Information

Information that is useful, objective, and secure from the audience’s point of view.

Plain Sight / Plain Language Requirement

Standard that documents be user-friendly, clearly organized, and written in understandable language.

False Information

Data that are intentionally or accidentally untrue, including falsified records and fabricated results.

Omission

Withholding relevant information from an audience, sometimes creating ethical uncertainty.

Misleading Information

Content that implies false conclusions through implication, exaggeration, or selective presentation.

Biased Information

Information slanted toward a particular viewpoint, often arising from conflicts of interest.

Greenwashing

Deceptive practice of portraying products or companies as more eco-friendly than they really are.

Intellectual Property Theft

Using others’ ideas, inventions, or creative works without credit or compensation.

Plagiarism

Presenting another’s words, ideas, or visuals as your own without proper citation.

Fair Use

Legal doctrine allowing limited use of copyrighted material without permission under specific conditions.

Trademark (™)

Symbol, word, or design that identifies and distinguishes goods or services, claimed by a company.

Registered Trademark (®)

Trademark officially registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, granting exclusive use.

Warranty

A manufacturer’s promise to stand behind the performance of a product.

Express Warranty

Oral or written statement guaranteeing remedy of product defects.

Implied Warranty

Unspoken, unwritten promise created by law that a product will perform as expected.

Liability

Legal responsibility for consequences resulting from one’s actions or products.

Confidentiality

Protection against unauthorized access to or disclosure of personal or proprietary information.

Privacy

Condition of being free from intrusion into one’s personal life or information.

Visual Ethics

Standards governing honest and accurate use of visuals and document design.

Disguised Document

Marketing material camouflaged as an educational or informational piece.

Hiding Mandatory Information

Placing required disclosures where readers are unlikely to see them.

Distorting Line Graphs

Manipulating scales or axes to exaggerate or minimize data trends.

Misusing Pie Charts

Creating unlabeled or 3-D charts that mislead about relative slice sizes.

Pictograph

Iconic graphic whose simplified image is quickly understood by viewers.

Doctoring Photos

Editing images to exaggerate positive or hide negative aspects, misleading viewers.

Discriminatory Language

Words that demean, exclude, or stereotype individuals or groups.

Exceptional Populations

Individuals at either end of the physical, mental, or behavioral spectrum, including disabilities.

Disability

Physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Stereotype

Oversimplified, conventional idea applied to all members of a group.

Sexist Language

Words or phrases that demean or ignore one sex or reinforce stereotypes.

Age Discrimination

Bias that treats people differently or patronizingly based on their age.