Respecting the rights of others to make their own decisions
Beneficence
The duty to acct to benefit or promote the good of others
Justice
The duty to distribute resources or care equally, regardless of personal attributes
Fidelity
Maintaining loyalty and commitment to the patient and doing no wrong to the patient
Veracity (Must know!!!)
One’s duty to communicate truthfully
Assault
An intentional threat designed to make the victim fearful; produces reasonable apprehension of harm
Battery
The harmful or offensive touching of another person
Bioethics
The study of specific ethical questions that arise in health care
Civil rights
The rights of personal liberty guaranteed under two U.S. constitutional amendments
Competency
The capacity to understand the consequences of one’s decisions
Conditional release
A release from an impatient psychiatric facility that is contingent upon outpatient commitment
Confidentiality
The ethical responsibility of a health care professional that prohibits the disclosure of privileged information without the patient’s informed consent
Duty to protect
Ethical and legal obligations of health care workers to protect patients from physically harming themselves or others
Duty to warn
On obligation that may result in the breach of confidentiality on the part of the health care worker to warn third parties when they may be in danger from a patient
Ethical dilemma
A situation in which there is a conflict between two or more courses of action, each carrying favorable and unfavorable consequences
Least restrictive alternative doctrine
Mandates that the least restrictive and least disruptive means be used to achieve a specific purpose
Long-term involuntary admission
Used for extended care and treatment of those with mental illness. Commitments are obtained through medical certification, judicial hearings, or administrative action
Malpractice
An act or omission to act that breaches the duty of care and result in or is responsible for a person’s injuries
Negligence
An act, or failure to act, that breaches the duty of due care and results in or is responsible for another person’s injuries
Right to privacy
The legal expectation of privacy concerning the sharing medical information
Right to refuse treatment
The right to reject forced treatment. This right takes into consideration the person’s right for autonomy, and beneficence
Right to treatment
The right to expect appropriate and adequate treatment
Temporary admission
Admitting patient with acute psychiatric symptoms on an emergency basis upon written order of a primary care provider for a limited amount of time
Tort
The civil wrong for which money damages may be obtained by the injured party from the wrongdoer
Unconditional release
Termination of a patient-institutional relationship
Unintentional torts
Unintended acts against another person that produce injury or harm
Voluntary admission
Inpatient care sought by the patient or the patient’s guardian through a written application to the facility