Legal and Ethical Responsibilities HTR Unit F

Ethics Definition- A set of principles relating to what is morally right or wrong. Provides a code of conduct or code of ethics. Many healthcare facilities have Ethics Committees

Code of Conduct Put people’s lives above everything else Make every effort to make the patient comfortable. Respect the patient’s right to die peacefully. Treat all patients equally. Maintain appropriate level of skill Maintain confidentiality

Patient’s Bill of Rights Patients have the right to 1. Considerate and respectful care 2. Obtain complete, current information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. 3. Receive information necessary to give informed consent prior to a procedure

Patient’s Bill of Rights 4. Have medical consequences for health care/and refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. 5. Confidential treatment of all communications and medical records 6. Reasonable response to a request for services. 7. Review medical records and right to examine bills.

Advanced Directives AKA Legal Directives Allows individuals to state what medical treatment they want or do not want in the event they become incapacitated

Types of directives Living Wills-individuals state what they do or do not want to prolong life when their conditions are terminal. Have to be written Document has to be witnessed by two adults who cannot benefit from the outcome. DNR

Types of Directives Health Care Power of Attorney (Durable Power of Attorney) Permits an individual to appoint another person to make any decisions regarding health care if the individual becomes unable to make decisions for him/herself.

POA includes: providing or withholding specific medical or surgical procedures hiring or dismission health care providers spending or withholding funds for health care having access to medical records

Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) Law that mandates any healthcare facility receiving any type of federal aid comply with the following: Provide information and assistance in preparing advanced directives. Document any advance directives in the patient’s medical record. Training for the staff on the medical and legal issues of advanced directives

Professional Standards Perform only those procedures for which you have been trained or legally permitted to do. Use step-by step, correct methods while performing any procedure Obtain identification authorization before performing any procedure Inform the patient

Professional Standards Obtain the patient’s consent before performing any procedure Follow all safety precautions Keep all information confidential Report any mistakes immediately to the supervisor Accept no bribes or tips Behave professionally in dress, language, manners and actions