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Any care that reults in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish.
Abuse
Confidentiality
An agreement between two or more persons.
Contract
Principles of right or good conduct.
Ethics
A wrongful or illegal act of civil law not involving a contract.
Tort
Factors of care that patients can expect to receive.
Patient's rights
The failure of a professional to use the degree of skill and learning commonly expected in that individual's profession, resulting in injury, loss, or damage to the person receiving care.
Malpractice
Failure to give care that is normally expected, resulting in injury to another person.
Negligence
Providing improper or unprofessional treatment or care that results in injury to another person.
Someone who has the power or authority to act as the representative of another.
Agent
Unlawfully touching another person without that person's consent.
Battery
Focuses on the legal relationships between people and the protection of a person's right.
Civil law
A legal document designed to indicate a person's wishes regarding care in case of a terminal illness or during the dying process.
Advance directives
Slander or libel; a false statement that causes ridicule or damage to a reputation.
Defamation
Physical or verbal attack on another person; treatment or care given to a person without obtaining proper consent.
Assault
Focuses on behavior known as crime; deals with the wrongs against a person, property or society.
Criminal law
Contracts that are stated in distinct and clear language, either orally or in writing. EX: Surgery permit
Expressed contracts
Revealing personal information about an individual without his or her consent.
Invasion of privacy
All personal information given to health personnel by a patient; must be kept confidential.
Privileged communication
Authorized or based on law.
Legal
A legal document stating a person's desire on what measures should or should not be taken to prolong life when his or her conditions is terminal.
Living will
A condition in which a person does not have legal capacity and is therfore unable to enter into a legal agreement.
Legal disability
A document that permits an individual (known as a principal) to appoint another person (known as an agent) to make any decisions regarding healthe care if the principal should become unable to make decisions. Also, called "Durable Power of Attorney (POA)."
Designation of Health Care Surrogate
A copy given to patients upon admission to a hospital.
Patient's Bill of Rights
A copy given to each person upon admission to a long-term care facility.
Resident's Bill of Rights