Medico-Legal Term.

Front 1

A person with the legal right to speak/act on behalf of another. The person is legally responsible for the actions and/or statements made by the agent on his behalf.

Back 1

AGENT

Front 2

The breaking or violating of a law, promise, contract or duty.

Back 2

BREACH

Front 3

The laws of a state or nation which deal with the enforcement of civil rights. Disputes between citizens; violation of rights by one person to another

Back 3

Civil Law

Front 4

Unwritten law that is based on customs or court decisions.

Back 4

Common Law

Front 5

A relationship in which one cannot reveal information given to him by another without the express consent (permission) of the other, unless required by law.

Back 5

Confidential Relationship

Front 6

Laws that pertain to crime and it's punishments.

Back 6

Criminal Law

Front 7

"The Law of Agency" - The doctor is principle; you are his agent.

Back 7

Doctrine of Respondeat Superior

Front 8

A set of behavioral/moral standards formed by a particular group or profession which attempts to govern the actions or behavior of the members of that group.

Back 8

Ethics

Front 9

A crime more serious than a misdemeanor.

Back 9

Felony

Front 10

Laws exempting physicians and other medical professionals from liability for treatment given in accident cases.

Back 10

Good Samaritan Law

Front 11

Group established by the local medical society who hear and investigate complaints about physicians in the area regarding professional care or excessive fees charged.

Back 11

Grievance Committee

Front 12

To give consent by inference or action but without the express statement.

Back 12

Implied Consent

Front 13

To give consent, having full knowledge of the matter at hand and the dangers that may be involved (written).

Back 13

Informed Consent

Front 14

State laws which govern the methods and requirements in gaining a license to practice medicine. Includes what a physician can practice in his field(specialty) and grounds for suspension or revocation of license.

Back 14

Medical Practice Acts

Front 15

The relative incidence of disease.

Back 15

Morbidity

Front 16

Ten section code condensed by the AMA in 1957 to aid the physician to individually and collectively maintain a high level of ethical conduct.

Back 16

Principles of Medical Ethics

Front 17

The acceptance of one state's standards as at least equal to or superior to their own.

Back 17

Reciprocity

Front 18

The cancellation or summoning back of a license/act.

Back 18

Revocation

Front 19

Any written law.

Back 19

Statute

Front 20

A civil wrong. (malpractice, liability, slander)

Back 20

Tort

Front 21

ethics

Back 21

set of moral standards, not laws

Front 22

bioethics

Back 22

moral issues that arise as a result of science and technology

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law

Back 23

rule enforced by a governing authority

Front 24

professional courtesy

Back 24

based on customs and courtesies shown to other professionals, involves discounts or waiver of fees. Physician decides who receives.

Front 25

Hippocrates

Back 25

Greek physician
wrote the hippocratic oath
considered the "Father of Medicine

Front 26

Thomas Percival

Back 26

English physician
Wrote the fist official code of ethics for physicians

Front 27

Principles of Medical Ethics

Back 27

current document with ethical guidelines for physicians
1847, AMA wrote, has 4 sections

Front 28

Ethical distress

Back 28

a certain course of action is indicated but something hinders the action, you know the right thing to do but for some reason you can not do it.

Front 29

Ethical dilemmas

Back 29

two or more choices are acceptable/correct but doing one precludes doing another, you will make good choice but somethng of value will be lost by not doing the 2nd choice"caught betwn rock and a hard place"

Front 30

Dilemmas of justice

Back 30

choices regarding who receives benefits and in what proportion. Organ donations and distribution of scarce or pricey meds.

Front 31

locus of authority issues

Back 31

two or more authority figures with their own ideas of how a situation should be handled, but only one will prevail. 1 physician feels a patient needs surgery & the other does not.

Front 32

5 components of ethical decision making process

Back 32

1. Gather relevant information
2. i.d. the type of ethical problem
3. determine the type of ethics to use
4. explore the practical alternatives
5. complete the action

Front 33

Euthanasia

Back 33

removing life support when no evidence of biologic life
CANNOT be decision of the physican. Ethical dilemma.
AMA does not approve of physician participation

Front 34

advanced medical directives

Back 34

used with Durable Power of Attorney in Advance Health Care (DPAHC)

Front 35

Durable power of attorney

Back 35

a)Term used for the instructions of HC prior to becoming incapacitated
b)Fed. Law required that Medicare/Medicade patient be given this information.

Front 36

Clinical trial and investigations

Back 36

a)physician must follow systematic program with due concern for the welfare, safety, and comfort of the patient, whether they run the study or refer pt to another physician.
b)AMA recognized the value of trials, may be some neg. effects.
c)Voluntary, must have written consent.

Front 37

Interprofessional relationships

Back 37

1. physicians are free to choose who they want to treat
2. Can refuse anyone
3. Notification to established pt is necessary , letter of withdrawl, not w/i crisis, availibility of another physician
physicain can be charged w/ abandonment

Front 38

letter of withdrawl
interprofessional relationships

Back 38

3. Notification to established pt is necessary, not w/i crisis,
availibility of another physician should be concidered
physician can be charged w/ abandonment

Front 39

Errors in Physician orders

Back 39

MAA is ethically obligated to notify the Physician

Front 40

Physician refererring pt

Back 40

should only refer when they are sure pt will receive competent tx

Front 41

"News in the public domain"

Back 41

information considered public record

Front 42

Physicians can release information

Back 42

only Physician can release info considered public knowledge
name, address, age, sex, maritial status, employer, occupation, next of kin, names of parents

Front 43

More info Physicians can release

Back 43

nature of accident
diagnosis and prognosis
pt general condition
not allowed to give specifics - lab findings , xrays or autopsy reports

Front 44

Fees and charges

Back 44

charging for missed appts is okay with pt prior knowledge
shoudl be reasonable /never excessive
unethical to charge for admitting pt to hospital
inital insurance forms should be free but can charge for subsequent

Front 45

Fee splitting

Back 45

fee splitting is unethical
occurs when a physician accepts $ from another physician, lab, or drug company, solely for referral
both parties are guilty of unethical behavior

Front 46

Advertising

Back 46

Must be factual info only, and not misleading
testimonials from others regarding quality of care should not used, they are subjective and can be misleading

Front 47

Ghost surgery

Back 47

unethical
is substitution of one physician for another w/o pt consent
pt has the right to choose their physician

Front 48

Medical records

Back 48

considered physicians property
(or clinic, hospital)
confidential
needs permission to release info unless required by law
otherwise it is a breach of confidentiality or invasion of privacy

Front 49

Required by law to report

Back 49

communicable dieseases
animal bites
violent wounds
suspected abuse
drug abuse
any plastic surgery that changed pt fingerprints , or indicates pt is fugitive of justice
if physician dies, moves, or retires, pt must consent to have records tranferred

Front 50

More on required by law to report

Back 50

if pt cannot be reached the records cannot be thrown away, they must be stored or destroyed
(burned or shredded)
Must be transferred if requested
Medicaid or Medicare pt records must by kept for 5 years
generally records should be kept indefintely - re; statue of limitations

Front 51

Know about the Scope of practice

Back 51

a.guidelines that designate the limitations of your practice as a HCP. Stay within the limits of your practice.

Front 52

AAMA(American Assoc. of Medical Assist.) Creed

Back 52

I believe in the principles and purposes of the profession of medical assisting.
I endeavor to be more effective.
I aspire to render greater service.
I protect the confidence entrusted to me.
I am dedicatged to the care and well-being of all people.
I am loyal to my employer.
I am true to the ethics of my prof.
I am strengthened by compassion, courage, and faith.

Front 53

AAMA Code of Ethics.

Back 53

The code of Ethics of AAMS shall set forth principles of ethical and moral conduct as they relate to the medical profession and the particular conduct as they relate to the medical prof. and the particular practice of medical assisting. Members of the AAMA dedicated to the conscientious pursuit of their prof. and thus desiring to merit the high regard of the entire medical prof. and the respect of the general public which they serve, do pledge to strive to always :
a)render service with full respect for the diginity of humanity;
b)respect confidential information obtained through employment unless legally authorized or required by responsible performances of duty to divulge such info.;
c)uphole the honor and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines;
d)seek to continually improve the knowledge and skills of medical assistants for the benefit of patients and professional colleagues;
e)participate in additional service activities aimed toward improving the health and well-being of the c