Abandonment
Refers to discontinuing medical care without making sure that another heath-care professional with equal or a higher level of training has taken over patient care.
abuse
wrong or improper use
advance directives
documents signed by the patient and by witnesses stating the patient's wishes for medical care should he or she become incapacitated
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
prohibits job discrimination for people age 40 years or older
age of majority
age at which a person is considered an adult this is state-dependent,but usually 18 or 21 years old
Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental
battery
illegal touching of another person
beneficence
actions that create benefit or good
bioethics
refers to life and death ethical issues and the implications of the application of biological research
breach
a failure to perform some promised act or obligation
civil law
The branch of law dealing with the definition and enforcement of all private or public rights, as opposed to criminal matters.
code of ethics
the standards of acceptable behavior developed by and for members of a profession
competent adult
a person who has reached the age of majority and is considered of sound mind and not under the influence of drugs or other mind-altering substances
confidentiality
Ensures that only authorized parties can view the information
contract
agreement between two or more parties
covered account
a patient account that allows multiple payments or transactions
criminal law
codes of behavior related to the protection of property and individual safety
defamation
false and malicious attacks on someone's character or reputation
emancipated minor
An individual who has not reached the age of majority as established by state law but who lives independently is self-supporting, and has decision-making rights.
endorsement
a method of licensure through acceptance of a national examination score
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
ensures that employers do not discriminate against employees because of age, race, color or national origin, religion, gender, or physical challenge. EEOC
Equal Pay Act
Act that requires men and women to be paid equally when they are doing equal work in the same organization.
ethics
moral principles or values
expressed consent
permission that must be obtained from every responsive, competent adult patient before medical care may be rendered
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
-Enacted in 1993
-Guarantees workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for childbirth, adoption, medical emergencies for themselves or family member
-Employees are guaranteed job protection and suffer no reduction in salary
fee splitting
sharing of fees between physicians for patient referrals
fidelity
practice of meeting patient's rights to competent care , to respect, and to adherence to laws and agreements
fraud
act of deceiving or misrepresentation
implied consent
a patient's permission in which his or her actions indirectly indicate approval
incident report
documentation that describes any injury or potential for injury suffered by a patient in a healthcare agency
informed consent
consent by a patient to undergo a medical or surgical treatment or to participate in an experiment after the patient understands the risks involved
invasion of privacy
This is the release of medical records without the patient's knowledge and permission
justice
equitable distribution of benefits and burdens
law
a rule of conduct or standard of behavior established by proper authority, society, or custom
libel
a tort consisting of false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
malfeasance
...an improper act, resulting in causing harm
malpractice
professional misconduct or demonstration of an unreasonable lack of skill with the result of injury, loss, or damage to the patient.
medical identity theft
is when a person seeking healthcare uses another person's name or insurance
Medical Practice Acts
laws established in all fifty states that define the practice of medicine as well as requirements and methods for licensure in a particular state.
misfeasance
the improper performance of an otherwise proper or lawful act.
negligence
The failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances.
non compos mentis
not of sound mind
nonfeasance
a failure to act when under an obligation to do so
Patient's Bill of Rights
statement of the rights to which patients are entitled as recipients of medical care
quality improvement (QI)
A program of measures taken by health care providers and practitioners to uphold the quality of patient care. Also called quality assurance.
quid pro quo
something for something
reciprocity
the process by which a professional license obtained in one state may be accepted as valid in other states by prior agreement without reexamination
Red Flags Rule
enacted August 1, 2009 by the Federal Trade Commission to combat medical identity theft
registration
A credentialing procedure whereby one's name is listed on a register as having paid a fee and/or met certain criteria within a profession
release of medical records
a form signed by a patient or his or her legal representative allowing a health care provider to give medical information to a person or agency.
reportable incidents
events or conditions, that by law, must be reported to a designated authority
res ispa loquitur
the thing speaks for itself
respondent superior
let the master answer" employer is responsible for employees actions
risk management
The practice of considering the risk of actions taken and taking steps to minimize the risk associated with them
scope of practice
legal description of what a specific health professional may and may not do
slander
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements
standard of care
the ordinary skill and care that medical practitioners use and that is commonly used by other medical practitioners in the same locality when caring for patients
statue of limitations
is a law prescribing the time period during which legal action can be taken.
subpoena
a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
subpoena duces tecum
the court command to a witness to produce at trial a certain pertinent document he or she holds
Title VII of the Civil Rights of 1964
Prevents employers from discriminating in hiring or firing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. request for sexual favors
tort
(law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought
unbundling
submitting multiple CPT codes when one code should be submitted
upcoding
Deliberate manipulation of CPT codes for increased payment
veracity
truth
vulnerable populations
a collection of individuals who are more likely to develop health problems as a result of excess risks, limits in access to health care services, or being dependent on others for care