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.
