Ethical Responsiblities
A system of fundamental principles that a society develops to guide decisions about right and wrong
What is ethics?
Formalized promises enforceable by law that contain agreements between parties to perform specific duties.
What are contracts?
The ethical principle granting patients self-determination and the right to make decisions about their own care.
What is autonomy?
A federal law passed in 1996 to establish national standards for protecting sensitive patient health information.
What is HIPAA?
A type of consent indicated by actions, such as a patient holding out their arm to have blood drawn or opening their mouth for an exam.
What is implied consent?
Deeply held beliefs that reflect what an individual or profession cares about most and guide daily decisions
The legal term for any threatened or implied act of unwanted physical contact, whether carried out or not.
What is assualt?
Permission granted by a patient for a medical provider to perform a treatment or procedure.
What is consent?
Federal agency guidelines established in 1970 to mandate workplace safety and protect health care staff from hazards.
What is OSHA?
A form of dishonesty involving trickery or submitting false insurance claims for services never performed.
What is fraud?
Standardized methods for performing tasks that are outlined in a facility’s policy and procedure manual.
The unauthorized physical touching of another person without their consent
What is battery?
The legal and ethical obligation to keep a patient's personal medical information private.
What is confidentiality?
State statutes passed to protect individuals and professionals who volunteer medical assistance in emergency situations from legal liability.
What are Good Samaritan Laws?
Written false statements that damage an individual's reputation, representing a form of defamation.
What is libel?
A complex situation where following one ethical principle contradicts another, leaving no easy or perfect answer
What is an ethical dilemma?
A legal principle meaning "let the master answer," where employers are held liable for the actions of their staff.
What is respondeat superior?
Written instructions created by a patient outlining their medical care preferences if they become incapacitated.
What are advance directives?
Federal legislation requiring medical facilities to inform adult patients upon admission about their right to create advance directives.
What is the Patient Self-Determination Act?
Spoken false statements that damage an individual's reputation in public or within hearing range of others.
What is slander?
Performing an action that results in the death of a patient to end suffering, also known as mercy killing.
What is euthanasia?
Failure to meet the standard of care expected from a professional, resulting in harm or injury.
What is negligence?
Minors under 18 who are financially independent, married, or court-approved to sign their own medical consent forms.
What are emancipated minors?
Federal regulations enforced by the DEA that categorize addictive prescription medications into five schedules based on abuse potential.
What is the Controlled Substances Act?
Detaining a competent patient against their express will when they pose no threat to themselves or others.
What is false imprisonment?