Key Terms
1: An obligation to do or not do something
2:An obligation that may result, or has resulted, from a negligent act.
Liability
Professional misconduct that results in harm to another; negligence of a health care professional
Malpractice
affidavit
voluntary statement of facts sworn before an authority to be true
Advance Directive
written instructions expressing the patients wishes concerning the types and amount of medical treatment to be rendered in the event the patient can no longer make those decisions
failure to act, or take an action, that a reasonable or prudent person would not take under the same circumstances
Negligence
branch of philosophy dealing with good conduct and moral values
ethics
tort law
a body of civil law that deals with private wrongs causing harm to individuals or their property
Accreditation
process whereby businesses, educational institutions and programs, and health care organizations are determined to meet standards and performance criteria as established by an accrediting agency
mechanism for reporting an incident, usually by completing a document describing what happened
Incident report
a situation in which a patient gives voluntary permission to another party to perform procedures that have been explained
Informed consent
Scope of practice
professional duty limits based on state and federal law and on an individuals education and experience
abandonment
to leave a patient who is still in need of care or observation
process by which an agency or organization establishes a minimum knowledge base for a given health care profession
credentialing
Guidelines given in a series of statements that provide ethical standards of conduct for a profession
Code of ethics
replaced the AHA patients' bill of rights, this informs patients about what they should expect during their hospital stay with regard to their rights and responsibilities
established in 1990, this act requires medical device users to report to the manufacturer and/or FDA incidents that reasonably suggest there is a probability that a medical device has cause or contributed to harm, death, or illness of a patient
Safe Medical Device Act
efforts of a health care provider organization to collect and utilize data to decrease the chance of harm to patients or staff
risk management
moral principles
guides for ethical decision making that include the concern that individuals have for the well being of others, respect for individual autonomy, basic justice, and prevention of harm to others