Download Lesson 30, part 2 | BIOL - Light Microscopy and more Quizzes Biology of microorganisms in PDF only on Docsity!
American Hospital Association (AHA)
nonprofit group or alliance of member hospitals and health care organizations that promote the interests of hospitals. Annual state and national conferences are held each year to discuss important legislation, financial considerations, regulations, and accreditation issues that affect hospitals. AHA is an advocacy group for health care organizations, particularly hospitals. TERM 2
assault
DEFINITION 2 a leag term referring to the unjustifiable attempt to touch another person or the threat to do so in circumstances that cause the other person to believe that it will be carried out, or to cause fear. An assault may be permissible if proper consent has been given (e.g., consent to obtain a blood specimen). TERM 3
battery
DEFINITION 3 a complex legal term referring to the intentional touching of another person without consent, and/or beating or carrying out threatened physical harm. "Battery" always includes an assault, and is therefore commonly used with the term in "assault and battery." TERM 4
bioethics
DEFINITION 4 moral issues, dilemmas, or problems that are the result of modern medical practices, health care services, clinical research, and/or technology (often bioethical issues involve "life and death" situations). Bio refers to "life" and ethics refers to a branch of philosophy dealing with the distinction between right and wrong. TERM 5
breach of duty
DEFINITION 5 a legal term referring to an infraction, violation, or failure to perform.
civil law
different from criminal law; in civil law; the plaintiff sues for monetary damages. TERM 7
Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments (CLIA)
DEFINITION 7 federal guidelines that regulate all clinical laboratories across the United States. Regulations apply to any site that tests human specimens, including small POLs, or screening tests done at the patient's bedside. TERM 8
criminal actions
DEFINITION 8 legal resourse for acts against the public welfare; these actions can lead to imprisonment of the offender. TERM 9
defendant
DEFINITION 9 individual (e.g., a health care worker), against whom a legal action (civil or criminal) or lawsuit is filed. TERM 10
deposition
DEFINITION 10 a legal term referring to the testimony of a witness that is recorded in a written legal format.
full disclosure
explains the full nature of teh research and any risks (e.g., blood collection problems) and benefits to the partcipant. TERM 17
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
DEFINITION 17 federal law (1996) expanded in 2000 to protect security, privacy, and confidentiality of personal health information. TERM 18
implied consent
DEFINITION 18 a complex legal term that varies from state to state in its interpretation. Basically it entails conditions when immediate action is required to save a patient's life or to prevent impairment of a patient's health (i.e., medical emergency care operates with notion of implied consent in many cases). TERM 19
informed consent
DEFINITION 19 a complex legal term; basically, it refers to voluntary permission by a patient to allow touching, examination, and/or treatment by health care workers after they have been given information about the procedures and potential risks and consequences. It allows patients to decide what may be performed on or to their bodies. TERM 20
liable
DEFINITION 20 a legal term that refers to a legal obligation when damages are concerned.
litigation process
a legal action to determine a decision in court. Many malpractice cases are negotiated and settled out of court. TERM 22
malpractice
DEFINITION 22 a legal term referring to improper or unskillful care of a patient by a member of the health care team, or any professional misconduct, unreasonable lack of skill, or infidelity in professional or judiciary duties; often described as "professtional negligence." TERM 23
medical records
DEFINITION 23 definitive documents (paper or electronic) that contain a chronological log of a patient's care. It must include any information that is clinically significant or relevant to the patient's care. TERM 24
misdemeanor
DEFINITION 24 a legal term referring to many types of criminal offenses that are not serious enough to be classified as felonies. TERM 25
negligence
DEFINITION 25 a legal term referring to the failure to act or perform duties according to the standards of the profession.
respondeat superior
a legal term referring to the concept by which the actions of an individual are attributed to the supervisors or employers in control. In these cases, the supervisor may be liable for the negligent actions of their employee. It is also referred to as "vicarious liability." TERM 32
standard of care
DEFINITION 32 the practices or guidelines that a reasonably prudent person would follow in any particular circumstance. Many agencies, licensing boards, certifying boards, and accrediting organizations write standards of care or standards of practice to guide health care workers in their duties. TERM 33
statute of limitations
DEFINITION 33 a legal term referring to the time limit after an injury that a plaintiff must file a lawsuit or be forever barred from doing so. The statute of limitations for professional negligence in most states is 2 years. TERM 34
tort
DEFINITION 34 a legal wrong in which the person who commits it is liable for damages in civil, not criminal, court. The tort system is part of the judicial system concerned with resolving two-party disputes over whether some harm has been committed to one party or his/her property.
