1. Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
Principles of Health Science

2. Legal Responsibilities
Legal Responsibilities - those that are authorized or based on law.
Civil Law – focuses on legal relationships between people and the protection of a person’s rights
Criminal Law – focuses on wrongs against a person, property, or society
Torts – wrongful acts that do not involve contracts

3. Torts
A tort occurs when a person is harmed or injured because a health care provider does not meet the established or expected standards of care.
There are many types of torts:
Malpractice - the failure of a professional to use the degree of skill and learning commonly expected in that person’s profession. Results in injury, loss or damage to person being cared for.

4. Torts
Negligence - failure to give care that is normally expected of a person in that position, results in injury.
Assault - a threat or attempt to injure.
Battery - unlawful touching of another person without consent.
Informed Consent - permission granted voluntarily by a person of sound mind after being informed

5. Torts
Invasion of Privacy - unnecessarily exposing an individual or revealing personal info without consent
False Imprisonment - restraining an individual or restricting an individual’s freedom
Abuse - any care that results in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish.
False imprisonment - such as, keeping a pt hospitalized against their will, or applying physical restraints without proper authorization or with no justification. You can keep a pt against their will if they present a threat to themselves or toward others. Documentation must be maintained. Physician’s orders must be given every 24 hours to continue restraint procedures. Good documentation is a must.
Abuse - e.g. (see next slide)

6. Abuse
Physical Abuse – hitting, forcing people against their will, restraining movement, depriving food or water, not providing physical care.
Verbal Abuse – speaking harshly, swearing, shouting, threats, abusive statements
Psychological Abuse – threatening harm, denying rights, belittling, intimidating, ridiculing, threatening to reveal confidential info
Sexual Abuse – unwanted sexual touching or act, using sexual gestures or behaviors

7. Abuse
Domestic Abuse – when intimate partners use threats, aggressive, or violent behaviors to maintain power and control over the other
Child Abuse – abuse directed toward a child
Elder Abuse – abuse directed toward an older person

8. Torts
Defamation – when false statements either cause a person to be ridiculed or damage the person’s reputation (even in error)
Slander – when the defamation is spoken
Libel – when the defamation is written

9. Contracts Contract An agreement between 2 or more parties.
Most contracts have 3 parts:
Offer – competent person enters into relationship with a healthcare provider and offers to be a patient
Acceptance – Healthcare provider gives an appointment, or exam, or treatment to the patient
Consideration – payment made by the patient for services provided

10. Contracts
Implied Contracts – obligations that are understood without verbally expressed terms.
Expressed Contracts – stated in distinct and clear language, either orally or in writing.
Legal Disability – minors, mental incompetent persons, under the influence of alcohol or drugs that alter mental status, semiconscious or unconscious.
Agent – when a person works under the direct control of another person
Contracts in HC are implied or expressed.
All parties entering into a contract must be free of legal disability. A person who has a legal disability does not have the legal capacity to form a contract.
Implied contract – e.g. when a qualified HC worker prepares a med and a pt takes the med it is implied that the pt accepts the tx.
Expressed Contract – e.g. surgical permit. Promises of care must be kept, therefore, all risks must be explained completely to the patient.
All parties entering into a contract must be free of legal disability.

11. Privileged Communications
Privileged Communications – comprise all info given to Healthcare personnel by a patient; by law, this info must be confidential and shared ONLY with other member of the pt’s health care team.
Health Care Records – contain info about the care provided to the patient.
Privileged communications are another important aspect of legal responsibility.
HC Records are also considered privileged communication.

12. HIPAA PRIVACY
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, It’s a federal law
HIPAA is mandatory, penalties for failure to comply
Establishes federal regulations regarding the privacy of patient information
Patient Privacy is EVERYONE’s responsibility
Government fines imposed for privacy violations

13. Ethics
Ethics – set of principles relating to what is morally right or wrong.
Ethical Dilemmas – a necessary choice between equally undesirable ethical alternatives
It’s important to remember: legal responsibilities are determined by law.
Ethics provide a standard of conduct or code of behavior. This allows a HCP to analyze info and make decisions based on what people believe is right and good conduct.

14. Ethical Dilemmas Euthanasia (assisted death) AIDS
Aborted fetuses for research
Discontinue life support
Religious rights
Financial issues
Transplant recipients
Discuss the following dilemmas:
Is euthanasia (assisted death) justified in certain patients?
Should a patient be told that a health care provider had AIDS?
Should aborted fetuses be used for research?
When should life support be discontinued?
Do parents have a religious right to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion for their child?
Can a HC facility refuse to provide expensive treatment such as a bone marrow transplant if a pt cannot pay for the treatment?
Who decides whether a 75 y/o pt or a 56 y/o pt gets a single kidney available for transplant?

15. Ethical Dilemmas Selling organs Use of illegal substances
Animals in research
Cloning
Stem cell research
Continue the discussion:
8. Should people be allowed to sell organs for use in transplants?
9. If a person can benefit from marijuana, should a physician be allowed to prescribe it as a treatment?
10. Should animals be used in medical research even if it results in the death of the animal?
11. Should genetic researchers be allowed to transplant specific genes to create the “perfect” human being?
12. Should human beings be cloned?
13. Should aborted embryos be used to obtain stem cells for research, especially since scientists may be able to use the stem cells to cure diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s?
Many hospitals and LTCF have ethical committees that will address each ethical dilemma as a group. They include medical and laymen, along with family members.

16. Ethical Code Guidelines
National Organizations vary
All have the same basic principles:
Put saving of life and the promotion of health above all else.
Keep patient as comfortable as possible and preserve life.
Respect patient’s choice to die peacefully and with dignity.
National organizations affiliated with the different HC occupations have established ethical codes for personnel in their respective occupations. Although some codes differ slightly, most contain the same basic principles.

17. Ethical Code Guidelines
Treat all patients equally regardless of race, religion, social or economic status, sex, or nationality.
Provide care for all individuals to the best of your ability.
Maintain competency.
Stay informed and continue education.

18. Ethics
Confidentiality – info about the pt must remain private and can be shared ONLY with other members of the pt’s HC team.
Refrain from immoral, unethical, and illegal practices.
Information obtained from pts should not be repeated or used for personal gain. Gossiping about pts is ethically wrong.

19. Patient’s Rights
Federal and state legislation requires health care agencies to have a written policy concerning PATIENT’S RIGHTS.
The AHA has affirmed a “PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS” that is recognized and honored by most health care facilities.

20. PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Considerate & respectful care
Obtain complete, current info concerning diagnosis (dx), treatment (tx), & prognosis
Receive info necessary to give informed consent
Have advance directives for Healthcare and/or refuse treatment to the extent permitted under law
These rights must be posted.

21. PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Privacy concerning a medical care program
Confidential tx of all communications and records
Reasonable response to a request for services
Obtain info regarding any relationship of the hospital to other healthcare and educational institutions

22. PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Be advised of and have the right to refuse to participate in any research project
Expect reasonable continuity of care
Review medical records, examine bills, and receive an explanation of all care/charges
Be informed of hospital rules, regulations, and/or policies & resources available to resolve disputes or grievances

23. RESIDENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Residents in Long Term Care Facilities (LTCF’s) are guaranteed certain rights under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987.
These rights known as the ‘Resident’s Bill of Rights’
These rights must be posted in the LTCF facility.

24. RESIDENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Free choice regarding Dr, treatment, care, and participation in research
Freedom from abuse and chemical or physical restraints
Privacy and confidentiality of records
Accommodation of needs and choice regarding activities, schedules, and healthcare

25. RESIDENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Voice grievances without fear of retaliation or discrimination
Organize and participate in groups, social, religious, and community activities
Info on medical benefits, records, and advocacy groups
Manage personal funds & use personal possessions

26. RESIDENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Unlimited access to immediate family or relatives and to share a room with his/her spouse (if both are residents)
Remain in the facility and not be transferred or discharged except for medical reasons; the welfare of the resident or others; failure to pay; or if the facility either cannot meet the resident’s needs or ceases to operate.
All states have adopted these rights, and some have added additional rights. Health care workers can face job loss, fines, and even imprisonment if they do not follow these rights.
By observing these rights, the health care workers helps ensure the patient’s safety, privacy, and well being, and provides quality care at all times.

27. Professional Standards
Legal responsibilities
Ethical responsibilities
Patients/Residents Rights
Advance Directives
There are certain standards of behavior/care required by health care providers to carry out their duties
By following certain standards at all times, you can protect yourself, your employer, and the patient. There are some basic standards to follow (next slide)

28. Professional Standards
Perform only those procedures for which you have been trained and are legally permitted to do
Use approved, correct methods while performing any procedure
Obtain proper authorization before performing any procedure
Identify the patient and obtain the patients consent before performing any procedure

29. Professional Standards
Observe all safety precautions
Keep all info confidential
Think before you speak and carefully consider everything you say
Treat all patients equally regardless of race, religion, social or economic status, sex, or nationality
Think – do not reveal information, such as lab results or a blood pressure reading, to the pt unless you are specifically instructed to do so. Be aware of others in the room (family, visitors, other pts).

30. Professional Standards
Accept no tips or bribes for the care you provide
If any error occurs or you make a mistake, report it immediately to your supervisor
Behave professionally in dress, language, manners, and actions

31. REMEMBER!!!
It is your responsibility to understand the legal and ethical implications of your particular health care field.
Ethical responsibilities are based not on law, but rather, on what is morally right or wrong.
Healthcare workers must respect the patient’s rights.