Legal Responsibilities
A CNA notices that another employee is taking medications from the medication cart for personal use. The employee says, "Don't tell anyone." What type of law has most likely been violated?
What is criminal law?
A CNA forgets to lock a wheelchair before helping a patient stand. The wheelchair rolls away and the patient falls. What legal concept best describes this situation?
What is negligence?
A patient tells the nurse, "I do not want this treatment." Which patient right is being exercised?
What is the right to refuse treatment?
A healthcare worker tells a patient, "If you don't cooperate, I'll make you regret it." The patient becomes fearful, but no physical contact occurs. What legal violation is this?
What is assault?
A CNA discusses a patient's diagnosis in a crowded elevator where visitors can hear. What professional responsibility was violated?
What is confidentiality?
A patient sues a healthcare worker after private medical information was shared without permission. Which area of law would most likely handle this case?
What is civil law?
A patient suffers a broken hip after a healthcare worker leaves water on the floor and fails to clean it up. Which element of negligence proves the patient was harmed?
What is injury?
Before surgery, a physician explains the risks, benefits, alternatives, and expected outcomes of the procedure. What process is taking place?
What is informed consent?
A patient clearly refuses a procedure, but staff members perform it anyway. What legal violation occurred?
What is battery?
A healthcare worker tells coworkers that a nurse steals medications, but the statement is completely false. What type of defamation occurred?
What is slander?
A newly hired CNA is asked to operate a mechanical lift that she has never been trained to use. Instead of requesting help, she attempts the transfer and the patient is injured. What legal responsibility did the CNA fail to follow?
What is Scope of Practice?
A nurse ignores a physician's medication order and administers the wrong medication, causing serious complications. What type of professional wrongdoing occurred?
What is malpractice?
A patient is scheduled for surgery and wants to know all available treatment options before making a decision. The physician explains the risks, benefits, and alternatives of each option so the patient can make an informed choice. Which patient right is being protected?
What is Autonomy?
A competent patient wants to leave the facility. A staff member stands in the doorway and refuses to allow the patient to leave. What legal violation has occurred?
What is false imprisonment?
A CNA documents, "The patient was rude and difficult all day," instead of recording observable behaviors. What documentation rule was violated?
What is charting opinions instead of facts and observations?
A healthcare worker falsifies documentation to hide a mistake that caused patient harm. What type of legal violation has occurred?
What is a criminal law violation involving falsification of medical records?
A confused patient falls from bed after a CNA fails to follow safety precautions ordered by the care team. To prove negligence, what four elements must be present?
What are duty, breach of duty, injury, and causation?
A patient has a legal document stating they do not want long-term life support if they become permanently unconscious. Which advance directive is being followed?
What is a Living Will?
A CNA notices unexplained bruises, fearfulness, and sudden withdrawal in an elderly patient. What is the CNA's legal responsibility?
What is mandatory reporting of suspected abuse according to facility policy and state law?
A CNA promises a patient, "I'll return in 10 minutes to help you to the restroom." Despite being busy, the CNA returns as promised. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
What is fidelity?
A CNA notices that the identification band on a patient does not match the information in the patient's chart prior to a scheduled procedure. Concerned about delaying the procedure, the CNA remains silent. The wrong patient receives the procedure. What legal responsibility should the CNA have exercised?
What is Patient Advocacy?
A nurse is responsible for administering medications. Without checking the patient's allergies, the nurse administers an antibiotic that causes a severe reaction and hospitalization. The patient files a lawsuit claiming the nurse failed to meet professional standards. What legal term applies?
Liability
Following a severe accident, a patient becomes unconscious. Healthcare providers contact a person previously designated to make medical decisions that are not specifically addressed in written treatment instructions. Which advance directive made this possible?
What is a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare?
During an investigation, it is discovered that a caregiver has been taking a patient's money, threatening the patient not to tell anyone, and failing to provide basic hygiene care. Name three forms of abuse involved.
What are financial abuse, emotional/verbal abuse, and neglect?
A CNA notices a medication error made by another healthcare worker and immediately reports it to the nurse, even though doing so may create conflict among staff members. What one-word ethical value is demonstrated?
Integrity