Ethics and Safety

VALUES AND ETHICS  Values  Moral Values  Ethics  Ethical Dilemma  Legal Rights

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS  ARRT Standards of Ethics  Responsibility and Accountability  Resolving Ethical problems

Resolving Ethical problems  List everyone involved and identify perceptions  Presume everyone has patient’s best interest in mind  Gather relevant information  Clarify ethical issues  Determine strengths of each resolution  Use best resolution

7 Biomedical Ethics  Autonomy  Nonmaleficence  Beneficence  Justice  Fidelity  Veracity  Confidentiality

LEGAL CONSIDERATION  State Licensing  Standards of Care: Professional, Clinical, Quality Performance Standards  Informed Consent  Incident Reports  Good Samaritan Laws  Patient Rights

BASIC LEGAL CONCEPTS  Criminal Law  Civil Law  Negligence and Malpractice  Assault and Battery  Invasion of Privacy  False Imprisonment  Defamation of Character

CRIMINAL  Individual who threatens society  Misdemeanors or felonies  Result is punishment of person accused

CIVIL  Precedents and principles  Torts  Intentional and Unintentional  Compensates client, not to punish accused

NEGLIGENCE  When a healthcare professional provides substandard care.

MALPRACTICE  Result of professional misconduct  Patient must prove:  Tech owed a duty to the patient  Tech didn’t carry out duty  Patient was injured  Patient’s injury was a result of tech’s failure to carry out the duty

Lack of Communication  Most common cause for malpractice  “A patient fell and was injured in the radiology department of a hospital. The radiologist’s defense was that the nurse had not filled out the requisition adequately; therefore, he had had no knowledge of the patient’s history of being unable to walk for 6 months. However, the court held the Radiologist liable for negligence in not remaining alert to the reasonable possibility that the patient might faint and fall.”

Doctrine of Respondeat Superior  Employer will be held liable for an employee’s negligent act. –Employer-employee relationship –Employee must be functioning under the authority of employer  Master-servant relationship: right to control employee’s activities, supervise, pay wage, discharge employee

LEGAL CONCEPTS CONT…  Assault  Battery  Invasion of Privacy  False Imprisonment  Defamation of Character

SAFETY Emergency Preparedness  Weather  Weather Alerts  Bomb  Bomb Threats  Disaster  Disaster Plan

Safety Guidelines  Walk, don’t run  Obey warnings  Move cautiously  Do not obstruct vision  Never use hands to compress trash  Clean spills quickly  Use locks and good body mechanics  Never leave patient unattended on an x-ray table  Keep floors and hallways unobstructed

MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL SAFETY  Visual Inspection  Medical Device Reporting

Electrical Safety Guidelines  Never attempt repair  Never pull on cords  Do not use multiple adapters or ext cords  Always use 3-pronged plugs  Avoid contact with water; hands dry  Do not use equipment with frayed cords  Keep cords out of doorways and walkways

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS  OSHA Hazardous Communication Rules  Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

PREVENTION OF FALLS  Learn condition of patient  Keep floors clear  Side rails always up  Wheelchairs locked  NEVER leave patient unattended

FIRE SAFETY  Pull alarm closest to you  Remove persons in danger  Turn off equipment and O2  Close all doors and windows

RACE Guidelines RRRR – Remove and Rescue AAAA – Alert, activate alarm and announce CCCC – Contain by closing doors and windows EEEE - Extinguish

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS  Paper and wood: Soda and acid water  Rubbish or wood: Dry Chemical  Grease or electrical: Carbon Dioxide  Rubbish, wood, grease, anesthetic: Antifreeze or water

RADIATION SAFETY  ALARA  Time  Distance  Shielding  Hang lead aprons