Chapter 3 Vocab

Question 1

Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient’s consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient

Answer 1

Abandonment

Question 2

written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or health care directive

Answer 2

advance directive

Question 3

the manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into a professional conduct

Answer 3

applied ethics

Question 4

unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm

Answer 4

assault

Question 5

unlawfully touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent

Answer 5

battery

Question 6

the study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care

Answer 6

bioethics

Question 7

disclosure of information without proper authorizations

Answer 7

breach of confidentiality

Question 8

a process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical patient care

Answer 8

certification

Question 9

damages awarded in a civil lawsuit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident

Answer 9

compensatory damages

Question 10

able to make rational decisions about personal well-being

Answer 10

competent

Question 11

permission to render care

Answer 11

consent

Question 12

a legal defense that may be raised when the defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff

Answer 12

contributory negligence

Question 13

an established process to determine the qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function as an orginization

Answer 13

credentialing

Question 14

ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care

Answer 14

decision-making capacity

Question 15

the communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person’s reputation or standing in the community

Answer 15

defamation

Question 16

blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin; a definitive sign of death

Answer 16

dependent lividity

Question 17

oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath

Answer 17

depositions

Question 18

the phase of a civil lawsuit where the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the attorneys to have a better understanding of the case and which will assist in negotiating a possible settlement or in preparing for trial. _______ includes depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of records

Answer 18

discovery

Question 19

written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel not to attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest

Answer 19

DNR

do not resuscitate orders

Question 20

a type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf, in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity

Answer 20

durable power of attorney for health care

Question 21

a medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care

Answer 21

duty to act

Question 22

a person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult

Answer 22

emancipated minors

Question 23

immediate care or treatment

Answer 23

emergency medical care

Question 24

the philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior

Answer 24

ethics

Question 25

a type of consent in which a patient gives verbal or nonverbal authorization for provision of care or transport

Answer 25

expressed consent

Question 26

the confinement of a person without legal authority or the persons consent

Answer 26

false imprisonment

Question 27

the act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action

Answer 27

forcible restraint

Question 28

statutory provisions enacted by many stated to protect citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good faith emergency medical care, unless there is a wanton, gross, or willful negligence

Answer 28

good samaritan laws

Question 29

legal doctrine that can protect an ems provider from being sued or which may limit the amount of monetary judgement that the plaintiff may recover; generally applies only to EMS systems that are operated by municipalities or other governmental entities

Answer 29

governmental immunity

Question 30

conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care

Answer 30

gross negligence

Question 31

a written document that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient, should he or she become unable to make decisions. Also known as an advance directive or a living will

Answer 31

health care directive

Question 32

a type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision making capacity. Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care

Answer 32

health care proxies

Question 33

type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment

Answer 33

implied consent

Question 34

permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained

Answer 34

informed consent

Question 35

refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent

Answer 35

in loco parentis

Question 36

written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one another

Answer 36

interrogatories

Question 37

the seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force, including transporting a competent adult for medical treatment without his or her consent

Answer 37

Kidnapping

Question 38

false and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing

Answer 38

libel

Question 39

the process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows people to perform a regulated act

Answer 39

licensure

Question 40

a term relating to medical jurisprudence (law) or forensic medicine

Answer 40

medicolegal

Question 41

a code of conduct that can be defined by society, religion, or a person, affecting character conduct, and conscience

Answer 41

morality

Question 42

failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide

Answer 42

negligence

Question 43

a theory that may be used when the conduct of the person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statute

Answer 43

negligence per se

Question 44

the right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care

Answer 44

patient autonomy

Question 45

any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. this is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient's medical record or payment history

Answer 45

PHI | protected health information

Question 46

when a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual, the EMT, the agency, and/or the medical director may be sued for negligence

Answer 46

proximate causation

Question 47

damages that are sometimes awarded in civil lawsuit when the conduct of the defendant was intentional or constituted a reckless disregard for the safety of the public

Answer 47

punitive damages

Question 48

decomposition of body tissues; a definitive sign of death

Answer 48

putrefaction

Question 49

when the EMT or an EMS system is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occured

Answer 49

res ipsa loquitor

Question 50

stiffening of the body muscles; a definitive sign of death

Answer 50

rigor mortis

Question 51

most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care that an EMT is able to provide for the patient

Answer 51

scope of practice

Question 52

false and damaging information about a person that is communicated by the spoken word

Answer 52

slander

Question 53

written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm

Answer 53

standard of care

Question 54

the time within which a case must be commenced

Answer 54

statute of limitations

Question 55

a wrongful act that gives rise to a civil lawsuit

Answer 55

Tort