Ethical and Legal Considerations Flashcards
7 cards from real ACC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical and Legal Considerations flashcards as text
A POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is different from a living will because it:
Answer: Is a physician's medical order that is immediately actionable by emergency responders
A POLST is a medical order signed by a physician that emergency and healthcare providers can act on immediately, unlike a living will which is a directive.
An Alzheimer's patient wanders out of the facility at night. Which type of legal liability may the facility face?
Answer: Negligence for failure to provide adequate supervision
Facilities have a duty of care to provide adequate supervision; a preventable elopement resulting in harm can constitute negligence.
What does the term 'guardianship' mean in the context of Alzheimer's care?
Answer: A court-appointed authority over a person who lacks legal capacity
Guardianship is a legal relationship established by a court that grants another person authority to make decisions for an incapacitated individual.
HIPAA regulations require Alzheimer's caregivers to:
Answer: Protect the confidentiality of the patient's health information
HIPAA mandates that protected health information be kept confidential and only shared with authorized individuals.
A caregiver physically restrains an Alzheimer's patient to prevent them from falling, without a physician's order. This action may constitute:
Answer: False imprisonment or unauthorized use of restraints
Using physical restraints without a physician's order and proper justification can constitute false imprisonment and is considered a form of abuse.
When balancing autonomy and safety for an Alzheimer's patient who wants to continue driving, what is the most ethically sound approach?
Answer: Conduct a formal driving assessment and involve the physician in the decision
A formal driving evaluation by a qualified professional, in consultation with the physician, balances the patient's autonomy with public safety concerns.
What is the primary purpose of an ethics committee in a healthcare facility caring for Alzheimer's patients?
Answer: To provide guidance on complex ethical dilemmas in patient care
Ethics committees offer consultation and guidance when care teams face difficult ethical decisions, such as end-of-life care or treatment conflicts.