Medical Ethics, Body Mechanics, and Infection Control Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering patient consent, legal definitions in healthcare, body mechanics, infection control protocols, and types of medical care.

Informed/Expressed Consent

Patient gives permission after understanding procedure, risks, and benefits.

Implied Consent

Permission shown by actions.

Who Can Sign Consent

Patient, parent/guardian, legal representative or an emancipated minor

Implied Contract

Agreement not stated but understood.

Express Contract

Clearly stated agreement.

Breach of Contract

Not following an agreement.

Negligence

Carelessness causing harm.

Malpractice

Professional negligence.

Assault

Threat of harm.

Battery

Touching without permission.

Libel

Written false statement.

Invasion of Privacy

Sharing patient info without permission.

Slander

Spoken false statement.

Defamation

Damage to reputation.

Intentional Misconduct

Misconduct done on purpose.

Unintentional Misconduct

Misconduct that is accidental.

Tort

Civil wrong causing harm.

Legal Decision Maker

Person who makes healthcare decisions (POA/proxy).

Res Ipsa Loquitur

Negligence is obvious.

Captain of the Ship

Doctor responsible for everything.

Respondeat Superior

Employer responsible for employees.

HIPAA

Protects patient privacy.

Spoliation

Destroying evidence.

Proper Body Mechanics

Lift with legs, keep close, don’t twist.

Purpose of Body Mechanics

Prevent injury, keep balance, save energy.

Patient Movement

Pivot transfer (wheelchair), draw sheet (stretcher).

Paraplegic Transfer

Move toward strong side, support weak side.

Nosocomial Infection

Infection from hospital (most common: UTI).

Iatrogenic Infection

Infection caused by medical care.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Diseases in blood (HIV, Hepatitis); spread by blood; prevent with PPE.

Chain of Infection

Germ, source, exit, spread, entry, host.

Transmission Types

Contact, indirect, airborne, blood.

Universal Precautions

Precautions applied to all blood.

Standard Precautions

Precautions applied to all patients.

Airborne Precautions

Precautions requiring N95 masks.

Contact Precautions

Precautions requiring gloves/gown.

Strict Precautions

Precautions for highly contagious conditions.

Sterilization

Cleaning method that kills all organisms.

Disinfection

Cleaning method that kills most organisms.

Sterilization Methods

Steam, gas, radiation, chemicals.

Strict Isolation

Type of isolation used to protect others.

Reverse Isolation

Type of isolation used to protect the patient.

Antiseptics

Products used on skin.

Germicides

Agents that kill germs.

Disinfectants

Agents used to clean surfaces.

Antibiotics

Agents used to kill bacteria.

Holistic

Treats the whole person.

Western

Treats disease.

Complementary

Used with medical care.