Professional Ethics & Legal Standards Flashcards

Which of the following is NOT one of the four elements a plaintiff must prove in a negligence lawsuit?

Answer: Intent to cause harm

Negligence requires duty, breach, causation, and damages; intent is not required.

A coordinator writes a false and damaging statement about a physician in an email to coworkers. This is an example of:

Answer: Libel

Libel is defamation in written form, while slander is spoken defamation.

Touching a patient without consent, such as drawing blood after the patient refused, is legally considered:

Answer: Battery

Battery is unauthorized physical contact; assault is the threat or fear of such contact.

The legal doctrine that holds a hospital liable for the negligent acts of its employees performed within the scope of their job is called:

Answer: Respondeat superior

Respondeat superior means 'let the master answer' and makes employers liable for employees' on-the-job acts.

A legal document ordering the hospital to produce a patient's medical records in court is a:

Answer: Subpoena duces tecum

A subpoena duces tecum requires a person to bring specified documents or records.

A competent adult patient wants to leave against medical advice, and staff lock the unit door to keep the patient from going. This could constitute:

Answer: False imprisonment

Unlawfully restraining a competent person from leaving is false imprisonment.

The law that sets the time limit within which a malpractice lawsuit must be filed is known as the:

Answer: Statute of limitations

A statute of limitations establishes the deadline for filing a legal claim.