Medical Law and Ethics terms

67 glossary entries from the Medical Law and Ethics topic of the CCMA test plan. Try free Medical Law and Ethics practice questions.

• abandonmentEnding care of a patient who still needs it without proper notice or arranging for another qualified provider.
• ACAAffordable Care Act (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act): a federal law to improve access to health insurance…
• accountabilityTaking responsibility for one's own actions and their consequences.
• ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act: a federal civil rights law banning discrimination against people with disabilities.
• advance directiveA legal document stating a patient's wishes about life-sustaining treatment if they cannot speak for themselves.
• advocacySpeaking up for or supporting a patient, cause or policy.
• AMAAgainst medical advice: a patient leaving or refusing care the provider recommends; document it. Also the American…
• assaultIntentionally making someone fear they will be harmed or touched offensively.
• autonomyThe ethical principle of respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions.
• batteryIntentionally touching or harming a person without consent.
• beneficenceThe ethical principle of acting in the patient's best interest.
• breachUnder HIPAA, access, use or disclosure of PHI not permitted by the Privacy Rule that compromises its security or…
• business associateA person or company that does work for a covered entity involving protected health information, such as a billing…
• child abusePhysical, emotional or sexual harm or neglect of a child.
• civil lawLaw dealing with the rights and relationships between people, such as torts.
• code of ethicsA set of principles defining the ethical responsibilities of a profession.
• confidentialityThe ethical and legal duty to protect a patient's private information from unauthorized disclosure.
• covered entityUnder HIPAA, a health plan, a health care clearinghouse, or a provider who sends health information electronically for…
• criminal lawLaw that defines crimes against society and their punishments.
• defendantThe person or party being sued or charged.
• DNRDo not resuscitate: a medical order not to perform CPR if breathing or the heart stops.
• DPOADurable power of attorney: a legal document naming someone to act for a person, which stays valid if the person loses…
• EEOCU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: enforces federal laws against workplace discrimination.
• elder abuseActions or neglect by a caregiver that harm or risk harm to an older adult.
• EMTALAEmergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act: federal law on hospital emergency care that bars transferring a…
• ethical dilemmaA situation requiring a choice between options that are equally good, equally bad or uncertain in outcome.
• ethicsMoral principles that guide behavior and help decide what is right and wrong.
• false imprisonmentRestraining a person or confining them to an area without legal justification or consent.
• felonyA serious crime, generally punishable by more than one year in prison.
• fidelityThe ethical principle of faithfulness and keeping commitments to patients.
• four Ds of negligenceThe elements a patient must prove for malpractice: duty, dereliction (breach) of duty, direct cause, and damages.
• fraudIntentional deception of a person or group for personal gain.
• GINAGenetic Information Nondiscrimination Act: bans the use of genetic information in health insurance and employment…
• Good Samaritan lawA law that protects health care professionals who give reasonable, prudent emergency care from civil liability.
• health care proxyA legal document naming a person to make medical decisions if the patient cannot; also the person named.
• HIPAAHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which sets federal privacy and security rules for health…
• implied consentConsent presumed from the situation, as in an emergency when the patient cannot agree.
• informed consentA patient's voluntary agreement to a treatment after being told its purpose, risks, benefits and alternatives.
• intentional tortA wrongful act the person knew, or should have known, was wrong, such as assault, battery or false imprisonment.
• IRBInstitutional review board: a committee that reviews research to protect human participants.
• just cultureAn approach that encourages open reporting of errors and fixes system causes while keeping fair accountability.
• justiceThe ethical principle of treating patients fairly and equitably.
• libelFalse, damaging statements about a person made in writing.
• living willA type of advance directive that lists acceptable medical treatments, especially at the end of life.
• malpracticeProfessional negligence: a professional's failure to meet the standard of care, causing injury.
• mandated reporterA person required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect of children, older adults or other vulnerable people.
• minimum necessaryThe HIPAA standard that only the least amount of PHI needed for a task may be used, disclosed or requested.
• misdemeanorA less serious crime, generally punishable by a fine or less than one year in jail.
• negligenceFailure to act as a reasonably careful person in the same position would, causing harm to someone owed a duty.
• nonmaleficenceThe ethical principle of avoiding harm ("do no harm").
• Notice of Privacy PracticesThe HIPAA notice explaining how a covered entity may use and disclose PHI and the patient's privacy rights.
• PHIProtected health information: individually identifiable health information that HIPAA protects.
• plaintiffThe person who files a lawsuit.
• POAPower of attorney: a legal document letting one person act for another.
• POLSTPhysician (or provider) orders for life-sustaining treatment: a signed medical order form that states a seriously ill…
• res ipsa loquitur"The thing speaks for itself": a legal doctrine for a breach of duty so obvious that negligence is presumed.
• respondeat superiorThe legal rule that an employer is responsible for employees' negligent acts done within the scope of their job.
• risk managementStrategies to prevent errors and reduce legal liability.
• scope of practiceThe defined limits within which a health care worker is authorized to work, make decisions and provide services.
• sentinel eventAn unexpected event involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk of it.
• slanderFalse, damaging statements about a person spoken aloud.
• statute of limitationsThe legal time limit for filing a lawsuit, such as for malpractice; it varies by state.
• subpoena duces tecumA court order to produce documents or records, such as a medical record.
• tortA wrongful act or omission that harms someone and lets them sue for damages in civil court.
• unintentional tortHarm caused without intending it, such as negligence.
• veracityThe ethical principle of honesty and truthfulness.
• whistleblowerA person who reports misconduct, such as fraud, to authorities.