abuse
care that results in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish
advance directives
a legal document designated to dedicate a person's wishes regarding care in case of a terminal illness or during the dying process
agent
someone who has the power or authority to act as the representative of another.
assault
physical or verbal attack on another person; treatment or care given to a person without obtaining proper consent.
battery
unlawfully touching another person without that person's consent
civil law
laws that focus on the legal relationships between people and the protection of a person's rights
confidential
not to be shared or told; to be held in confidence and kept to one's self
consent
permission granted by a person voluntarily and in sound mind; written consent is most easily proved
contract
an agreement between two or more persons
criminal law
law that focuses on behavior known as crime; deals with the wrongs against a person, property, or society
defamation
slander or libel; a false statements that causes ridicule or damage to a reputation
Designation of Health Care Surrogate
a legal document that permits an individual (known as a principal) to appoint another person to make any decisions regarding health care if the principal is unable to make the decisions
Durable Power of Attorney
(same definition as Designation of Health Care Surrogate)
ethics
moral duty or obligation; principles of right or good conduct
expressed contract
a contract or an agreement that is stated in distinct and clear language, either morally or in writing
false imprisonment
restraining an individual or restraining an individual's freedom
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
set of federal regulations adopted to protect the confidentiality of patient information and the ability to retain health insurance coverage
implied contract
a contract or agreement that creates obligations without verbally expressed terms
informed consent
permission granted voluntarily by a person who is of sound mind and aware of all factors involved
invasion of privacy
revealing information about an individual without his or her consent
jurisprudent
understanding the science or philosophy of law
legal
authorized or based on law
legal disability
a condition in which a person does not have legal capacity and is therefore unable to enter into a legal agreement (for example, and is the case with a minor)
liable
legally responsible
libel
false, written statement that causes a person ridicule or contempt or causes damage to a person's reputation
living will
a legal document stating a person's desires on what measures should or should not be taken to prolong life when his or her condition is terminal
malpractice
providing improper or unprofessional treatment or care that results in injury, loss, or damage to another person
moral
relating to principles of right and wrong
negligence
failure to give care that is normally expected, resulting in injury to another person
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
federal law that regulates the education and testing of nurse assistants
Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
a federal law that mandates that every individual has the right to make decisions regarding medical care, including the right to refuse treatment and right to die
patients' bill of rights
a list of rights that every patient can expect to receive while under the care of health care providers
patients' rights
factors of care that all patients can expect to receive
privileged communications
all personal information given to health personnel by patient; must be kept confidential
resident's bill of rights
list of rights of residents in long-term care facilities receive
slander
verbally communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person; spoken comment that causes a person ridicule or contempt or damages the person's reputation
tort
a wrongful or illegal act of civil law not involving a contract
unethical
action that does not represent ideal behavior but may not be illegal