Chapter 5 Key Terms
Definition of Criminal Law?
Legal regulations governing actions that harm public health or safety, including medical malpractice, drug offenses, and healthcare fraud
Definition of Assault and battery?
Assault occurs when one party tries to inflict physical harm onto another. Battery occurs when one actually inflicts physical harm on a person.
Definition of Slander?
The action or crime of making a false SPOKEN statement damaging to a person's reputation
Definition of Scope of practice?
The activities that an individual health care practitioner is permitted to perform within a specific profession.
Definition of Denied payment?
A refusal by a health insurance company to pay for services or products it has agreed to cover
Definition of Civil Law?
Legal disputes between individuals or entities regarding rights and liabilities, often involving issues like medical malpractice or patient rights
Definition of Invasion of privacy?
The unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of protected health
Definition of Libel?
False A written defamation of a person's character, reputation, business, or property rights.
Definition of Ethics?
Core principles of health ethics – respect for persons, beneficence, justice, utility, solidarity
Definition of Termination of Coverage?
The cessation of health insurance benefits, which can occur due to non-payment, loss of eligibility, or the end of a plan period.
Definition of Torts?
Malpractice
Definition of False imprisonment?
An intentional act to restrict a patient's movement unlawfully
Definition of Contract?
The process of a muscle shortening and generating tension, often resulting in movement or stability of body parts
Definition of Power of Attorney?
A type of advance directive that gives a person (called a proxy) the authority to make medical decisions for another person if that person is not able to make their own decisions.
Definition of Pre-existing condition?
A medical issue that existed before the start of a health insurance policy, which insurers may limit or exclude coverage for, though protections exist under the Affordable Care Act.
Definition of malpractice?
Occurs when a hospital, doctor or other health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, causes an injury to a patient
Definition of Abuse?
The inappropriate treatment of an individual
Definition of Breach of Contract?
When one party to the contract doesn't do what they agreed.
Definition of Living Will?
A written, 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, such as pain management or organ donation.
Definition of Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
A federal law that addresses budget management, including provisions for Medicaid and Medicare, and sets standards for long-term care facilities.
Definition of Negligence?
An act of carelessness, not intent to harm; the practitioner made a mistake in the good faith belief that he or she was fulfilling the medical standards of care and doing the right thing by the patient
Definition of Defamation?
Incorrect information that is given out that is in error the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel
Definition of Consent form?
The process in which a health care provider educates a patient about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a given procedure or intervention
Definition of Denial of Services?
Issued when a payer, such as a health insurance company or Medicare, declines a healthcare provider's request to be reimbursed for their services
Abbreviation for APAP?
Acetaminophen