Intro to Health-Law & Ethics

Health Care Practitioners

Those who are trained to administer medical or health care to patients.

Veracity

Truth Telling.

Principle of Utility

Used in utilitarianism; requires that the rule used in making a decision must bring about positive results when generalized to a wide variety of situations.

American Medical Association Principles (AMA Principles)

A code of ethics for members of the American Medical Association (AMA), written in 1847.

Protocol

A code prescribing correct behavior in a specific situation, such as a situation arising in a medical office.

Utilitarianism

A consequence-orientated theory that states that decisions should be made by determining what results will produce the best outcome for the most people.

Summary Judgement

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

Bioethics

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

Code of Ethics

A list of principles intended to govern behavior-here, the behavior of those entrusted with providing care to the sick.

Hippocratic Oath

A pledge for physicians, developed by the Greek physician Hippocrates Circa 400 B.C.E.

Categorical Imperative

A rule that is considered universal law binding on everyone and requiring action

Beneficence

Acts performed by a health care practitioner to help people stay healthy or recover from illness.

Role Fidelity

Being faithful to the scope of the services for which you are liscensed, certified, or registered.

Ethics Committee

Committee made up of individuals, who are involved in a patients care, including health care practitioners, family, clergy, and others with the purpose of reviewing ethical issues in difficult cases.

Teleological or Consequence-Oriented Theory

Decision-making theory that judges the rightness or wrongness based on the outcome or predicted outcomes.

Deontological or Duty-Oriented Theory

Decision-making theory that states that the rightness or wrongness of the act depends on it's intrinsic nature and nothe outcome of the act.

Precedent or Case Law

Decisions made by judges in the various courts that become the rule of law and apply to future cases, even though they were not enacted by a legislature; known as a case law.

Fraud

Dishonest or deceitful practices in depriving, or attempting to deprive, another of his or her rights.

Confidentiality

Keeping medical information strictly private.

Liable

Legally responsible or obligated.

Moral Values

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

Litigious

Prone to engage in lawsuits.

Justice

Providing to an individual what is his or her due.

Ethics Guidelines`

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

Virtue Ethics

Refers to the theory that people who have moral virtues will make the right decisions.

Law

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

Common Sense

Sound practical judgement.

Medical Ethicist or Bioethicist

Specialists who consult with physcians, researchers, and other to help them make more difficult ehtical decisions regarding patient care.

Etiquette

Standards of behavior considered too be good manners among members of a profession as they function as individuals in society.

Ethics

Standards of behavior, developed as a result of one's concept of right and wrong.

Critical Thinking

The ability to think analytically, using fewer emotions and more rationality.

Autonomy

The capacity to be one's own person and make one's own decision without being manipulated by external forces.

Nonmaleficence

The duty to do no harm.

Compassion

The identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.

Plantiff

The person bringing the charges in a lawsuit.

Defendant

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

Courtesty

The practice of good manners.

Needs-Based Motivation

The theory that human behavior is based on specific human needs that must often be met in a specific order. Abraham Maslow is the best-known psychologist for this theory.