General Definitions
A system of rules established by a government to maintain order and protect people’s rights.
What is Law?
A list of rights every patient has, such as the right to privacy, informed consent, and respectful care.
What is Patient Bill of Rights?
The right of patients to make their own medical decisions and have those choices respected.
What is Autonomy?
Restraining a patient without legal or medical justification (e.g., keeping someone hospitalized against their will).
What is False Imprisonment?
Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior; in healthcare, ethics guide how professionals make decisions about patient care.
What is Ethics?
Type of advance directive that explains which medical treatments a person wants or doesn’t want if they are terminally ill.
What is Living Will?
The legal duties, skills, and responsibilities a healthcare professional is allowed to perform according to their job and training.
What is Scope of Practice?
Damaging a person's reputation through speech.
What is Slander?
Failure to give care that is normally expected of a person in a particular position, resulting in injury or damage to another person.
What is negligence?
Federal law that protects patients’ private health information and sets standards for data security.
What is HIPPA?
Permission granted by a patient after being told about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure.
What is Informed Consent?
The threat or attempt to harm a person; the unlawful touching of another person without consent.
What is Assault and Battery?
Professional negligence; when a healthcare worker provides improper or unprofessional treatment that results in harm.
What is Malpractice?
A legal document giving someone else the authority to make healthcare decisions for a patient if they can’t.
The ethical duty to “do no harm” and avoid actions that might cause unnecessary injury.
What is Nonmaleficence?
Damaging a person's reputation through writing.
What is Libel?
A situation where there is no clear right or wrong answer, often involving a conflict between values or duties.
A medical order stating that a patient does not want CPR or other life-saving measures if their heart stops.
What is DNR order?
A legal document stating a patient’s wishes about medical treatment if they become unable to communicate.
What is Advanced Directive?
The ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of the patient.
What is Beneficence?