Surg 102--Chapter 3 (B&K) Flashcards
(19 cards)
advance directive
A document in which a person gives instructions about his or her medical care in the event that the individual canno speak for himself.
autonomy
Self-government or independence.
causation
Action directly or indirectly causing an injury.
consent
Voluntary, autonomous permission to proceed with an agreed-on course of action.
damages
Compensation awarded to make restitution for an injury or a wrong.
defendant
Person named as the object of a lawsuit.
deposition
Statement given under oath that is a documentation of fact used in a court of law.
latrogenic
Injury or illness caused by professional intervention of a health care provider.
indicator
A measured increment of performance, process, system, or outcome.
liability
Legally responsible for personal actions.
malpractice
Substandard delivery of care that results in harm.
near miss
An event or situation that just by chance did not cause patient injury. A very close call.
negligence
Careless performance of a duty.
plaintiff
Person who initiates a lawsuit.
proximate cause
An act of commission or omission by one or more persons that caused a consequence to another.
root cuase analysis
The baseline reason for the occurrence of failure in a process or system.
sentinel event
An unexpected occurrence that involves physiologic or psychologic injury or death. This occurrence signals the need for appropriate reporting and documentation, immediate investigation, and response.
systems approach
A global attitude of improvement ad safety that encompases involvement of individuals and the organization at all levels. Adverse events are attributed not only to individuals but also failure of the interaction of the individual and the organization.
tort
Wrong committed by one person against another; civil action.
