Key Terms
Criminal law
a system or law that has to do with the punishment of those who commit crimes
preexisting condition
a medical condition that a patient has before starting healthcare
scope of practice
the activities that an individual health care practitioner is permitted to perform within a specific profession.
Slander
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement that damages a person's reputation
invasion of privacy
to interfere with someone's right to be alone or to be away from public attention
Civil law
the system of law that has to do with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs
denial of services
services which have been denied as not usual, customary, reasonable or medically necessary are Non-Covered Services.
consent form
a document that is signed by a person (or on behalf of the person whom they are a guardian) to show that they are in agreement with what the document says.
Defamation
a statement that injures a person’s reputation
Negligence
Failure to take good care of a patient
termination of coverage
termination of life insurance
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
breach of contract
the act of not following a contract
Abuse
the mistreatment of people, the mistreatment of patients.
Malpractice
improper or illegal professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner, lawyer, or public official
denied payment
when the insurance company declines to pay for what they agreed to cover.
ethics
moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity
libel
a false written statement that damages a person’s reputation
False imprisonment
the state of being imprisoned without legal authority or being framed for a crime.
Torts
a wrongful act or an unauthorized act of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability.
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
an act that gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances
Contract
a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or possession of land or property as a tenant, that is intended to be enforceable by law
Power of Attorney
the authority to act for another person in all legal or financial matters.
malpractice
improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner, lawyer, or public official.
assault and battery
the crime of threatening a person along with the act of making physical contact with them