Hippocratic Oath
Oath historically taken by physicians and other healthcare professionals swearing to practice medicine ethically
Abandonment
Unilateral termination of physician-patient relationship by the physician without notice to the patient. Physician must notify patient if he is withdrawing from case.
History and Physical Assessment
Hospital's rules require an H&P to be written within 24 hours of admission
Consultation
If the preferred tx is outside a physician's field of expertise, it is their duty to advise the patient
Diagnosis
Process of identifying a possible dz or process, providing the physician with tx options
Misdiagnosis
Dx and tx of: a disease different from that which the pt actually suffers, a dz the pt does not have, or sx but not the underlying dz
Autonomy and Informed Consent
Physician's duty to disclose known risks, benefits, and alternatives, of proposed treatment, advise alternatives, and provide necessary medical facts
Implied consent
Consent to treatment is implied in an emergency setting
Active treatment
Treatment towards curing a disease
Causal treatment
Attempting to prevent the cause of a disease
Conservative treatment
Not doing anything "radical
Palliative treatment
Treatment to stop pain
Expectant treatment
Treatment to remove symptoms that you expect will come, not treat the cause
Specific treatment
Treatment to fix one specific factor
Supportive care
Attempts to strengthen the patient
Medication errors
The leading cause of patient injuries
Negligent admin of meds
Wrong: Med, patient, dose, route, site
Aggravation of Patient's Condition
Worsening a preexisting condition through negligence may cause a physician to be liable for malpractice. Liability will be imposed only for the aggravation, rather than for both the original injury and its aggravation
Nosocomial Infection
Hospital acquired infections that are a leading cause of injury and unnecessary death. Linked to unsanitary conditions in the environment and poor practices.
Lucchesi v Stimmell
Action against a physician for intentional infliction of emotional distress, claiming the physician failed to be present during the unsuccessful attempts to deliver her premature fetus and he failed to disclose that the fetus was decapitated during delivery attempts.
Physician-Patient Relationship
The health and well-being of the patient depends on a collaborative effort between the physician and the patient, and must support the dignity of all persons and respect their uniqueness