Medical Terminology/ legal and ethics

What is the best way to memorize med terms

Understand what the parts of the words mean

prefix

beginning of word

Suffix

end of word

word root

main word

Eponyms

terms used in medicine that are named after people, places, or things

You cant break the word down

Transcribe

put a word and or meaning and or its meaning in written form

Abbreviations

shortened forms of words, usually just letters

What are some abbreviations that you can not use in healthcare

IU

U or u

qd or qod

Lack of leading zero

Trailing zero

MS

Apothecary symbols

Hyper

Excessive

Hypo

Below normal

Brady

slow

Tachy

fast

A-/an-

Without

anti

Against

Auto

self

Bi

two

Uni

one

Poly

many

Why do some terms have an O inbetween and some don’t for example gastritis and gastroenterology

dropped if it starts with a vowel

And kept if it connects two word roots

Pre

before

Post

after

Intra

Within

Inter

between

Sub

Under/below

Supra

above

Peri

around

Endo

Inside/within

Epi

upon/ on top of

Trans

Across/ through

Combining vowel

o sometimes i

Used between two word roots or between a word root and a suffix to ease pronunciation

Key rules for combining vowels

keep the combining vowel when joining two word roots or when adding a suffix that begins with a consonant

Drop if it the suffix begins with a vowel

How should you read med terms

read right to left

What are the common meanings behind suffixes

surgical

Diagnostic

Pathological

Ectomy

removal/excision

Otomy

cutting into

Stomy

creating an opening

Gram

record

Graphy

Process of recording

Scopy

visual examination

Itis

inflammation

Osis

abnormal condition

Pathy

disease

Algia

Pain

Plasty

surgical repair/reconstruction

centesis

Surgical puncture to remove fluid

Scope

instrument used to visually examine

Meter

instrument used to measure

Osis

abnormal condition or increase

Pathy

disease

Megaly

enlargement

Prefix is used for

numbers

Directions

Negations

Hemi/semi

half/partial

Mono

one/single

Di

double/two

Ab

away from

Ad

toward/near

Infra

Under/below

Dys

Bad/painful/difficult

Eu

Good/normal

Itis

inflammation

Ology

study of

Ectomy

surgical removal

Algia

pain

Megaly

enlargement

Pathy

disease

Emia

blood condition

Osis

abnormal condition

Oma

tumor/mass

Penia

Deficiency/decrease

Laws

rules of conduct enacted and enforced by governments

What are legal responsibilities based on

laws

What do health care workers legal responsibilities protect

their patients

Themselves

Employers

Criminal laws

protects all citizens from people who pose a threat to society

What are the types of offenses for criminal laws

minor

Serious

What can criminal offenses result in

community services

Fines

Loss of license

Probation

Imprisonment

Execution

Civil law

focuses on disputes between people

What are the two types of civil law

torts and contracts

Tort

a case in which a person is harmed because of another persons actions or failure to act

What are some examples of tort

Assault and battery

False imprisonment

Defamation of character

Invasion of privacy

Malpractice

Assault

intentionally threatening or attempting to harm a person

Battery

intentionally touching another person without the persons permission even if the contact does not cause harm

False imprisonment

intentionally violating a persons freedom

Defamation of character

intentionally damaging a persons reputation by making false statements about them

Libel

publishing false text or images

Slander

speaking false words

invasion of privacy

intentionally interfering with a persons right to be left alone

Negligence

unintentionally harming a person by action in an improper way

Malpractice

professional negligence

Scope or practice

what health care workers should and should not do according to their profession

What can be the result of malpractice

legal action

What do some people complain that malpractice lawsuit disproportionally add amount to

the rise in health care cost

Contract

voluntary agreement between two or more people

What are the three parts of a contract

offer

Acceptance

Consideration

What can happen if a contract is not performed according to the agreement

contract can be breached

What are the 2 types of contracts

implied and expressed

Implied contract

an understood agreement that is understood without being stated in words or writing

Expressed contract

an agreement that is specifically and clearly stated

Can be made in either words or writing

what does legal disability include

minors under the age of 18

Incompetent people (mental disabilities, psychiatric illness, or under the influence of alcohol/drugs)

Semiconscious/unconscious

What must be used if a non English speaker is entering into a contract

translator

What are the 2 parts of informed consent

a clear explanation of procedure or test

The permission given to perform he procedure or test by a competent and voluntary patient