Chapter 1: Introduction to Law and Ethics

Members of professional organizations such as American Medical Association (AMA) and American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) accused of unethical conduct are subject to

expulsion from the organization. suspension from the organization. peer council review.

Health care professionals can resolve the majority of ethical issues by using their own intuitive sense of ______.

moral values ethics

The traits and capabilities that allow you to get along well with others and to relate well with patients in a health care setting are examples of

people skills.

Common sense is somewhat difficult to define because it can have different meanings for different

people.

Ethics guidelines

publications that detail a wide variety of ethical situations that professionals might face in their work and offer principles for dealing with the situations in an ethical manner

Ethics are concerned with the concept of

right and wrong

What is a code of ethics?

to govern behavoir of members and to increase the level of competence and standards of care within the group. Or a list of principles intended to govern behavior.

Summary judgement

A decision made by a court in a lawsuit in response to a motion that pleadsthere is no basis for a trial.

Which of the following is a quality or principle that represents the professional success of health care practitioners?

Common sense

A health care practitioner is expected to approach a problem at work in a manner that lets them act in what manner?

Helpfully Legally Ethically

The Greek physician known as the father of medicine was

Hippocrates.

Which of the following is a pledge for physicians that was influenced by the earliest practitioners of medicine around 400 B.C.E.?

Hippocratic oath

What are some bioethical questions that medical practitioners might have to ask themselves?

How ethical is genetic research? What ethics should guide organ transplant?

Which of the following question(s) can help determine whether an act is ethical?

How will the health care practitioner feel if their act is publicized? Has the health care practitioner followed relevant laws? Would the health care practitioner want their family members to know?

What must health care practitioners acquire a working knowledge of and a tolerance for?

Human nature Individual characteristics

Which of the following terms means prone to engage in lawsuits?

Litigious

Ultimately, unethical behavior by a medical practitioner can result in which of the following?

Loss of practice Loss of income

Which of the following are circumstances where health care equipment dealers and manufacturers cannot be charged?

Malpractice

Federal preemption has become an important concern in what type of law?

Product liability

What types of laws or other legislation affect health care practitioners?

State practice acts Civil statutes Criminal statutes

When the courts find that drugs are misrepresented in order to win FDA approval, drug manufacturers could be forced to pay

damages.

Law

is defined as a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority.

liable

legally responsible

fraud

wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain

Protocol

A code that perscribes correct behavior in a specific situation

Which of the following are part of the code of ethics and creed of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)?

I am dedicated to the care and well-being of all people

Courtesy

Is the practice of good manner

Which of the following examples shows courtesy in a health care setting?

Pleasant greetings in the office Putting people at ease Self-introduction

law

Rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority

Sympathy

When you feel sorry for another person's plight

If a health care practitioner is unable to solve an ethical issue, they can contact

a bioethicist. the institutional ethics committee. a medical ethicist.

Ethics committee

committee made up of individuals who are involved in a patient's care, including health care practitioners, family members, clergy, and others, with the purpose of reviewing ethical issues in difficult cases

If you can see which solution or action makes good sense in a given situation, you are said to have

common sense.

Patients have the right to respect and

courtesy.

Something that is enacted to keep society running smoothly and to control behavior that could threaten public safety is a __.

law

Rapid advances in technology have influenced ethical court cases involving:

surrogacy and visitation

Beginning with the first step on top, list the steps in order for solving a problem using critical thinking. Instructions

1. Identify and clarify the problem 2. Gather info 3. Evaluate the evidence 4. Consider alternatives and implications 5. Choose and implement the best alternative

In what year were the American Medical Association Principles written?

1847

Bioethics

A discipline dealing with the ethical implications of biological research methods and results, especially in medicine.

What are some of the penalties that individuals may be sentenced to for breaking the law?

Community service Imprisonment Issuance of fines

Which of the following are often cited as the most vital to the professional success of health care practitioners?

Courtesy The three C's: courtesy, compassion, and common sense

If someone has compassion, they also have what attribute?

Empathy

What are the standards of behavior considered to be good manners among a group of professionals?

Etiquette

What is a doctrine that can bar injured consumers from suing in state court when the product that hurt them met federal standards?

Federal preemption

What are some characteristics of a law?

Formally recognized as binding Enforced by a controlling authority

All of the following are areas that can cause bioethical dilemmas EXCEPT

Genetic counseling

Which of the following are areas of medicine that are raising bioethical challenges for health care practitioners?

Genetic research Animal and human testing Organ transplants

Which of the following is true regarding a summary judgment?

One party is entitled to win by a matter of law. It is only available in a civil action.

What are the enforcement of laws made possible by?

Penalties for disobedience

Which of the following are areas that will help you gain perspective when studying law and ethics?

The impact of rising cost on the laws and ethics of health care delivery. The legal and ethical issues facing society, patients, and health care practitioners as the world changes. The rights, responsibilities, and concerns of health care consumers.

plaintiff

The person bringing charges in a lawsuit

Why does the government enact laws?

To control behavior that could threaten public safety To keep society moving smoothly

The ____ and _____ issues that are facing patients, society, and health care practitioners must adapt as the world changes.

legal and ethical

When you choose and implement the best alternative when critically thinking, which step are you choosing?

5

What are some influences that shaped American democracy and Americans' views of providing for the general welfare?

A belief in self-reliance An emphasis on personal liberty A tradition of limited government

Health care equipment product dealers and manufacturers can be held responsible for defective devices and products through which of the following charges?

Breach of warranty Fraud or intentional deceit Strict liability for cases in which defective products threaten the personal safety of consumers

Which of the following has the main purpose of elevating the standard of competence?

Ethics

What concept did Percival's Medical Ethics cover that earlier medical codes did NOT address?

Experimental medicine

When referred to the ethics committee, the members meet and review the case. While not binding, what is the outcome of the meeting?

It helps people understand the medical facts of the case It helps to understand alternatives available to resolve the situation It helps clarify the issue

Penalties for violation of this can include criminal liability. Upon conviction, these penalties could include fines, imprisonment, revocation of license, or other penalty as determined by courts.

Law

In what area of science does bioethics especially focus?

Medicine

An important issue in deciding drug injury cases is whether or not the drug manufacturer made what types of statements to win FDA approval?

Misleading False

Bioethicists

Specialists who consult with physicians, researchers, and others to help them make difficult ethical decisions regarding their patient care.

When trying to decide whether an action is ethical, asking yourself questions like, "Would you want your family members to know?" is an example of

critical thinking.

Bioethicists are also called

medical ethicists.

Ethics are by definition __.

standards of behavior the concept of right and wrong

Proficiency in computer literacy, English, science, and mathematics is an example of __.

technical skills

The abilities acquired during the course of study of science and mathematics are also known as

technical skills.

Part of the code of ethics and creed for AAMA says that members will pledge themselves to strive to always

uphold the honor and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines. render services with full respect and dignity of humanity. keep patients' medical concerns and treatment confidential and private.

What is a code prescribing professional etiquette that staff members are expected to follow in a medical office?

A policy manual

Which of the following societal and medical trends is NOT resulting in legal and ethical dilemmas for health care practitioners, patients, and society?

Advances in bioethical studies

Where would a health care professional find ways to deal with ethical situations in their profession?

An ethics guideline book

Which of the following governs the behavior of an organization's members and increases their level of competence?

Code of ethics

Licensed health care professionals convicted of violating which types of laws may lose their license to continue practicing medicine?

Criminal Medical practice Civil

Why is Percival's Medical Ethics important?

Earlier codes did not address concerns about experimental medicine. It became the definitive guide for a physician's professional conduct. It superseded earlier codes, like the Hippocratic oath.

What kinds of challenges are society, patients, and health care practitioners facing as technology advances?

Ensuring confidentiality Determining when life ends Assessing parenthood rights

What is a committee that usually consists of physicians, nurses, social workers, clergy, a patient's family, members of the community, and other individuals involved with a patient's medical care with the purpose of reviewing a difficult ethical health care issue?

Ethics committee

We live in a society where anyone receiving health care may be inclined to sue. Based on this, who may be at risk of being involved in a health care-related lawsuit?

Every person responsible for health care delivery

Which of these attributes do not support someone who has people skills?

Insensitivity when dealing with others

Moral Values

One's personal concept of right and wrong, formed through the influence of the family, culture, and society.

Today's health care recipients are often described as consumers. What does this mean in the context of health care?

Patients want to know more about their medical options. Patients expect favorable outcomes from treatment. Patients will question fees and treatment modes.

What do ethics guideline publications offer for dealing with situations in an ethical manner?

Principles for dealing with situations in an ethical manner.

defendant

The person or party against whom criminal or civil charges are brought in a lawsuit

Which of the following is NOT a basic right of today's health care consumers?

The right to always have favorable treatment outcomes

Which area of knowledge of law and ethics describes patients seeing themselves partnering with their health care practitioners in the healing process?

The rights, responsibilities, and concerns of health care consumers

Of the four choices below, which are the two most important reasons for studying law and ethics?

To avoid legal entanglements To provide competent care

What are some of the attributes of a health care provider who has people skills?

Trustworthiness and a sense of responsibility An understanding of and empathy for others The ability to impart information clearly and accurately

Which of the following are examples of protocols?

When another physician telephones, does the receptionist put the call through without delay? What is the protocol in the diagnostic testing office when the technicians get behind because of a late patient or a repair to an X-ray machine?

Which of the following decisions might require assistance by medical ethicists or bioethicists?

Whether to resuscitate brain-damaged premature infants Privacy in genetic testing

The American Medical Association Principles

are a code of ethics devised for members of the American Medical Association. are based on Percival's code of medical ethics. have been revised and updated to keep pace with changing times.

A reason to learn about law and ethics is to help the health care practitioner

avoid legal entanglements.