Ch. 05 Key Terms
Medical Definition of Criminal Law
The area of law that addresses possible illegal actions taken and must be proven in court beyond reasonable doubt.
Medical Definition of Civil Law
The victim's compensation is being fought for, often without regard for punishing the defendant.
Medical Definition of Torts
When a medical professional acts in a negligent manner and injures someone in their care.
Medical Definition of Malpractice
Any act or omission by a physician during treatment of a patient that deviates from accepted norms of practice in the medical community and causes an injury to the patient.
The practitioner made a mistake in the good faith belief that he or she was fulfilling the medical standards of care.
Medical Definition of Assault and Battery
Assault is attempted battery,but the harm occurs in a medical setting and includes harmful or offensive touching of a patient by a medical professional.
Medical Definition of Invasion of Privacy
A doctor sharing a patient's medical records with someone who is not authorized to see them.
Medical Definition of False Imprisonment
A health care professional is alleged to have compelled a patient to remain in a specific location to undergo treatment against the patient's will.
Medical Definition of Abuse
Inappropriate treatment of an individual; it includes physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse.
Medical Definition of Defamation
Incorrect information that is given out that is in error the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel.
Medical Definition of Slander
The action or crime of making a false SPOKEN statement damaging to a person's reputation.
Medical Definition of Libel
A defamatory statement in writing or other visible forms.
Medical Definition of Contract
The costs of employer-furnished first aid and medical facilities, including personnel or retainer fees for nurses and physicians that are not allocated to individual claims.
Medical Definition of Breach of Contract
When one party to the contract doesn't do what they agreed.
Medical Definition of Consent Form
A document with important information about a medical procedure or treatment, a clinical trial, or genetic testing.
Medical Definition of Scope of Practice
The activities that an individual health care practitioner is permitted to perform within a specific profession.
Medical Definition of Ethics
The guiding principles for healthcare professionals.
Medical Definition of Power of Attorney
A type of advance directive that gives a person (called a proxy) the authority to make medical decisions for another person if that person is not able to make their own decisions.
Medical Definition of Living Will
Legal document that spells out medical treatments you would and would not want to be used to keep you alive, as well as your preferences for other medical decisions
Medical Definition of Denial of Services
When a healthcare insurance payer refuses to reimburse a provider for services rendered to a patient according to their benefits.
Medical Definition of Denied Payment
The refusal of an insurance company or carrier to honor a request by an individual (or his or her provider) to pay for healthcare services obtained from a healthcare professional.
Medical Definition of Termination of Coverage
In respect of each Life Insured, the date on which the Coverage of the Life Insured ceases under the Policy for reasons mentioned in the Section on Termination of Coverage in this Policy.
Medical Definition of Pre-existing condition
A health condition that exists before someone applies for or enrolls in a new health insurance policy.
Medical Definition of Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
A piece of legislation that was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1987. Its primary purpose was to improve the quality of care provided by long-term care facilities and to enhance the quality of life of the residents.