Term
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Definition
| unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient's consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient. |
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Term
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Definition
| written documentation that specifies medical treatment for competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or health care directive. |
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Term
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Definition
| the manner which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct. |
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Term
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Definition
| unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm. |
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Term
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Definition
| touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent. |
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Term
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Definition
| the study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care. |
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Term
| breach of confidentiality |
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Definition
| disclosure of information without authorization. |
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Term
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Definition
| a process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care. |
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Term
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Definition
| damages awarded in a civil suit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident complained about in the lawsuit. |
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Term
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Definition
| able to make rational decisions about personal well-being. |
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Term
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Definition
| permission to render care. |
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Term
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Definition
| a legal defense that may be raised when the defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff. |
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Term
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Definition
| ability to understand and process information and make a choice regarding appropriate medical care. |
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Term
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Definition
| the communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person's reputation or standing in the community. |
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Term
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Definition
| blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin. |
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Term
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Definition
| oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath. |
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Term
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Definition
| the phase of civil suit where the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the attorneys to have a better understanding of the case and which will assist in negotiating a possible settlement or in preparing for trial. Discovery includes depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of records. |
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Term
| do not resuscitate (DNR) orders |
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Definition
| written documentation by a physician giving permission to medical personnel to not attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest. |
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Term
| durable power of attorney for health care |
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Definition
| a type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision making capacity. |
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Term
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Definition
| a medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care. |
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Term
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Definition
| a person who is under the legal age in a given state but, because of other circumstances, is legally considered an adult. |
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Term
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Definition
| a serious situation, such as injury or illness, that threatens the life or welfare of a person or group of people and requires immediate intervention. |
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Term
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Definition
| the principle of law that permits a health care provider to treat a patient in an emergency situation when the patient is incapable of granting consent because of an altered level of consciousness, disability, the effects of drugs or alcohol, or the patient's age. |
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Term
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Definition
| immediate care or treatment. |
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Term
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Definition
| the philosophy of right and wrong, of moral duties, and of ideal professional behavior. |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of consent in which a patient gives express authorization for provision of care or transport. |
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Term
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Definition
| the confinement of a person without legal authority or the person's consent. |
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Term
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Definition
| the act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action. |
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Term
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Definition
| statutory provisions enacted by many states to protect citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good faith emergency medical care, unless there is wanton, gross, or willful negligence. |
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Term
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Definition
| if your service is covered by immunity, it may mean that you cannot by sued or it may limit the amount of the monetary judgment that the plaintiff may recover; generally applies only to EMS services that are operated by municipalities or other governmental entities. |
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Term
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Definition
| conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care. |
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Term
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Definition
| a written document that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient, should he or she become unable to make decisions. Also, known as an advance directive or living will. |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision making capacity. Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care. |
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Term
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Definition
| type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment. |
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Term
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Definition
| permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained. |
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Term
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Definition
| refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. |
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Term
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Definition
| written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one another. |
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Term
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Definition
| the seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force, including transportation a competent adult for medical treatment without his or her consent. |
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Term
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Definition
| false and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing. |
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Term
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Definition
| the process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows individuals to perform a regulated act. |
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Term
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Definition
| a term relating to medical jurisprudence (law) or forensic medicine. |
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Term
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Definition
| a code of conduct that can be defined by society, religion, or person, affecting character, conduct, and conscience. |
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Term
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Definition
| failure to provide the same care that person with similar training would provide. |
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Term
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Definition
| a theory that may be used when the conduct of the person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statue. |
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Term
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Definition
| the right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care. |
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Term
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Definition
| basing current action on lessons, rules, or guidelines derived from previous similar experiences. |
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Term
| protected health information (PHI) |
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Definition
| any information about health status, provisions of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. this is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient's medical record or payment history. |
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Term
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Definition
| when a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual, the EMT, the agency; and/ or medical director may by sued for negligence. |
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Term
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Definition
| damages that are sometimes awarded in a civil suit when the conduct of the defendant was intentional or constituted a reckless disregard for the safety of the public. |
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Term
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Definition
| decomposition of body tissues. |
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Term
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Definition
| when EMT or EMS services is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred. |
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Term
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Definition
| stiffening of the body; a definitive sign of death. |
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Term
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Definition
| most commonly defined by state law; outlines that care you are able to provide for the patient. |
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Term
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Definition
| false and damaging information about a person that is communicated by the spoken word. |
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Term
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Definition
| written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm. |
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Term
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Definition
| the time within which a case must be commenced. |
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Term
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Definition
| a wrongful act that gives rise to a civil suit. |
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