Legal Terms
Wrongful deliberate acts of wrongful conduct against a person or person's property that are compensated with monetary awards.
What are torts? Intentional torts
An example of an intentional tort in health care.
What is an example of assault & battery?
Laws in almost every state that encourage healthcare workers to assist in emergencies that limit legal liability and offer immunity.
What are Good Samaritan Laws?
A branch of ethics within the field of healthcare.
What is bioethics?
A system of ethics that defines actions as right or wrong based on principles such as truth and justice.
What is deontology?
A intentional threat toward another person that places that person in reasonable fear of harm or unwanted contact. No actual contact need occur.
What is assault?
A nurse threatens to restrain a patient for an x-ray when the patient has refused consent
What is an example of assault in healthcare?
A patient's agreement to allow a procedure based on full disclosure of risks, benefits and alternatives.
What is informed consent?
A person's independence, ability to make own decisions.
What is autonomy?
Determining the value of something based on usefulness or for the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
What is utilitarianism?
An intentional offensive touching without consent or lawful justification.
What is battery?
A surgeon performs surgery on the wrong body part.
What is battery?
A document that designates a proxy or surrogate to consent for health care treatment when the patient is no longer able.
What is a durable power of attorney for healthcare?
The principle of fairness, fair treatment, fair distribution of resources.
What is justice?
When the right thing to do is not clear or members of the health care team and/or family do not agree on a course of action.
What is an ethical dilemma?
An unintentional tort.
What is negligence?
Conduct of a nurse or healthcare worker that falls below the generally accepted standard of care.
What is negligence?
An law that requires a signed consent for donation of a body, organ or tissues for medical use.
What is the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act?
An agreement to keep promises based on the virtue of caring.
What is fidelity?
When a nurse or health care worker speaks up for patients, their rights,, health and safety.
What is advocacy?
A serious offense that results in serious harm to to another person or society.
What is a felony?
Failure to use the same care that a reasonably prudent nurse would use under that same or similar circumstances.
What is malpractice?
A law that sets standards regarding electronic exchange of private and sensitive health information.
What is HIPAA?
Do no harm. Minimize harm if necessary to maintain health.
What is non-maleficence?
Taking positive actions to help others.
What is beneficence?