2.  those authorized or based on law

3.  focuses on wrongs against a person, property or society  Examples include:  Practicing without a license  Misuse of narcotics  Theft  Murder

4. focuses on legal relationships between people and the protection of a person’s rights. Examples include:

5.  Contracts

6.  wrongful acts that do not involve contracts; can lead to legal action. A tort occurs when a person is harmed or injured because a healthcare worker does not meet the expected standards of care.  Examples include:

7.  failure to give care that is normally expected of a person in a particular position, resulting in injury  Leaving bed siderails down  Not reporting defective equipment  Infections resulting from non-sterile supplies

8.  closely related and often used together  Assault: threat or attempt to injure; absence of contact  Battery: unlawful touching of another person without *consent: contact must occur  Examples of assault and battery include  performing a procedure after the patient has refused permission  improper treatment or rough handling of a patient

9. * Consent: Some procedures require written consent. Verbal consent is permitted in other cases but this must be informed consent. Informed consent must meet the following criteria :  voluntary  patient is of sound mind  procedure has been explained in language the patient can understand

10.  Invasion of privacy : unnecessarily exposing an individual or revealing personal information about a person without their consent  Improper draping  Passing on information to insurance company without consent  Talking to the media about an individual without consent

11.  False Imprisonment :restraining an individual or restricting their freedom  Keeping patients in hospital against their will  Applying physical restraints without authorization

12.  Abuse : Any care that results in physical harm, pain or mental anguish  Physical  Verbal  Psycological  Sexual

13.  Patients may experience abuse prior to admission so health care workers need to watch for  Unexplained bruises, fractures, etc  Signs of neglect  Etc  These need to be reported to the proper authorities

14.  Defamation: false statements that cause a person to be ridiculed or that damage their reputation  Slander if spoken  Libel if written