Chapter 4 Important Terms

Question 1

Abandonment

Answer 1

Neglecting a patient or client under and in need of immediate professional care, without making reasonable arrangements for the contribution of such care.

Question 2

Assault

Answer 2

A threat or attempt to injure another person in an illegal manner

Question 3

Battery

Answer 3

Unlawful touching of another person without consent, with or without injury.

Question 4

Breach

Answer 4

Breaking the law, an obligation or the terms of a contract.

Question 5

Civil law

Answer 5

Defines the legal relationship between individuals

Question 6

Common law

Answer 6

Unwritten law; customs that may have authority or have been established by prior court decisions

Question 7

Conduct

Answer 7

Behavior or a person’s actions

Question 8

Consent

Answer 8

Permission granted by a person voluntarily and in sound mind; written consent is most easily proved.

Question 9

Crime

Answer 9

Performing an act that is forbidden or omitting a duty required by public law, making the offender liable for the action

Question 10

Criminal law

Answer 10

Defines the legal obligation between an individual and the state of society.

Question 11

Custom

Answer 11

An accepted behavior or common practice

Question 12

Duty of care

Answer 12

By law, health care workers must perform services in a manner that meets common standards of practice

Question 13

Ethics

Answer 13

Standards of behavior and practice that are established by a professional organization for its members

Question 14

Felony

Answer 14

A serious crime for which the penalty is imprisonment for more than 1 year

Question 15

Ideal

Answer 15

Standard of perfection or excellence

Question 16

Illegal restraint

Answer 16

Holding or detaining a person against his or her will.

Question 17

Invasion of privacy

Answer 17

Unlawfully making known to the public any private or personal information without the consent of the wronged person

Question 18

Liable

Answer 18

Legally responsible for own actions

Question 19

Libel

Answer 19

Communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person in writing

Question 20

Licensure

Answer 20

Authorization by the state to perform the functions of an occupation for which educational and examination standards are specified

Question 21

Litigation

Answer 21

A lawsuit or legal action

Question 22

Malpractice

Answer 22

Bad or harmful practice that injures another person

Question 23

Misdemeanors

Answer 23

Crimes that are less serious than felonies and result in imprisonment for less than 1 year

Question 24

Negligence

Answer 24

Failure to perform duties in a reasonable and customary way

Question 25

Privileged communication

Answer 25

Personal or private information relating to the care given by health care personnel

Question 26

Reasonable care

Answer 26

Services given in a manner appropriate to the level of education and experience of the health care worker

Question 27

Slander

Answer 27

Verbally communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person

Question 28

Statutory law

Answer 28

Law established by the legislative branch of government that determines what is legal

Question 29

Tort

Answer 29

Civil wrong

Question 30

Unethical

Answer 30

Action that does not represent ideal behavior but might not be illegal

Question 31

Value system

Answer 31

Ideals and thoughts that determine what is considered worthwhile or meaningful, right or wrong

Question 32

Will

Answer 32

Written document that allows a person to distribute property after death