Ethics

What does ethics provide for health care workers?

Guidelines for acceptable behavior.

What do professional associations provide for health careers?

Codes of ethics to govern behavior and increase standards of care.

In addition to their professional life, where must health care workers maintain high standards of behavior?

In their private life.

What should health care workers not accept from patients?

Money or expensive gifts.

What should health care workers avoid with patients or staff members at the health care facility?

Socializing.

Who should health care workers refer patient questions to?

The patient’s doctor.

Who is responsible for enforcing the ethical code?

Every person.

What is the focus of civil law?

Legal relationships between people and the protection of a person's rights.

What does criminal law focus on?

Wrongs against a person, property, or society.

What constitutes abuse in health care?

Any care resulting in physical/sexual harm, or mental/emotional anguish.

What is assault in a legal context?

A threat or attempt to injure.

What does battery involve?

Unlawful touching of another person without consent.

What is defamation?

False statements that cause ridicule or damage reputation.

What is slander?

Spoken defamation.

What is libel?

Written defamation.

What does false imprisonment refer to?

Restraining an individual or restricting an individual's freedom.

What is a felony?

A serious crime carrying a penalty of imprisonment for more than one year.

What is a misdemeanor?

A lesser crime.

What does abandonment mean in health care?

Leaving a patient without turning over care to another qualified professional.

What constitutes invasion of privacy in health care?

Unnecessarily exposing an individual or revealing personal information without consent.

What is negligence?

Failure to perform an act that deviates from the expected behavior of a reasonably prudent person.

What does malpractice mean?

Bad practice; commonly referred to as professional negligence.

What is a will?

A legal document that defines the disposition of property after death.

What is an incident report?

A form filled out anytime something unusual occurs to staff, patients, or visitors.

What is the Good Samaritan Law?

It protects someone who provides emergency aid from civil damages unless negligence occurs.

What is informed consent?

A signed document stating that the patient understands the medical procedure and risks involved.

What does AMA stand for?

Against Medical Advice.

What are two rules regarding physician orders for restraints?

Must be ordered by a physician and applied/rechecked every 2 hours.

What is an advance directive?

A legal document conveying wishes for medical treatment if incapacitated.

What is a medical power of attorney?

A designated person has authority to make health care decisions if the patient cannot.

Ethics

Guidelines for acceptable behavior in healthcare.

HIPAA

Law protecting patient privacy and information.

Good Samaritan Law

Protects individuals who provide voluntary emergency care.

Civil Law

Focuses on legal relationships and protecting individual rights.

Malpractice

Professional negligence resulting in harm.

Informed Consent

A signed agreement that a patient understands a medical procedure and its risks.

AMA

Against Medical Advice, leaving care prematurely.

Restraints

Devices that limit a patient's movement, requiring physician orders.

Advance Directive

Document outlining a person's medical treatment wishes in case they cannot communicate.