Pre-Class - Mod. 2 - Legal Fundamentals and Medical Ethics.pptx

Legal Fundamentals and Medical Ethics

Overview

  • Resource is copyright protected material of ATI.

  • Strictly prohibits copying, distributing or posting on the internet or social media.

Foundational Objectives

  • Essential knowledge areas for Medical Assistants (MAs):

    • Health care professional ethics

    • Compliance and oversight

    • Patient rights

Introduction to Morals and Ethics

  • Key concepts include:

    • Morals

    • Ethics

    • Patient rights

Medical Assistant Responsibilities

  • Discussion points:

    • Legal actions MAs can and cannot perform.

    • Procedure when a patient decides to stop treatment.

Health Care Professional Ethics

  • Core principles of professional ethics:

    • Respect for autonomy

    • Beneficence

    • Nonmaleficence

    • Justice

Ethical Conflicts and Decision-Making

  • Ethical conflicts may arise without clear moral guidance.

  • Discussion of ethical reservations is encouraged.

National Healthcareer Association Code of Ethics

  • Key commitments outlined include:

    • Commitment to society and the profession.

    • Adherence to professionalism and honesty.

    • Continuous learning and application of knowledge.

    • Protection and respect for patient dignity and privacy.

Compliance and Oversight

Lesson Objectives

  • Importance of understanding:

    • Compliance with laws and regulations in health care.

    • Malpractice, negligence, and regulatory standards.

Laws Affecting Health Care Professionals

  • Major laws covered include:

    • HIPAA, ADA, Affordable Care Act, EMTALA, OSHA, etc.

  • Understanding laws vs regulations.

Fraud and Abuse in Health Care

  • Definitions:

    • Fraud: intentional act

    • Abuse: billing practices issues

Accreditation and Certification

  • Importance of accreditation for reimbursement by Medicare.

  • Verification of compliance and performance.

Legal Terms Related to Malpractice and Negligence

  • Key legal terms:

    • Malpractice, negligence, tort, defamation, etc.

  • Concepts of risk management and patient care quality.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Historical Context

  • Patient Bill of Rights established in 1973.

  • Updates from OCR and DHHS on discrimination rules.

Key Patient Rights

  • Rights include:

    • Right to privacy

    • Right to refuse treatment

    • Right to informed consent

Mandated Reporting

  • Key responsibilities for MAs:

    • Recognize and report abuse and neglect.

    • Understand what, when, and how to report incidents.

Advance Directives

  • Importance of communicating patient’s desires regarding end-of-life care.

  • Role of health care proxy or durable power of attorney.

Ethical Practice in Health Care

  • Importance of upholding high ethical standards and personal morals.

  • MAs must understand their legal boundaries and patient rights.

Summary and Reflection

  • Recognize that MAs bear responsibility for their actions.

  • Continuous personal and professional development in ethical practice is crucial.