Legal and Ethical Issues Flashcards
7 cards from real MACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Legal and Ethical Issues flashcards as text
Which federal law protects the confidentiality of a patient's health information?
Answer: HIPAA
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and personal health information.
A patient refuses to take their prescribed medication. What is the medication aide's appropriate response?
Answer: Document the refusal and notify the supervising nurse
Patients have the legal right to refuse treatment; the medication aide must document the refusal and report it to the supervising nurse.
What is the legal term for performing a healthcare procedure on a patient without their consent?
Answer: Assault and battery
Performing a procedure on a patient without consent constitutes assault (the threat) and battery (the unauthorized physical contact) under law.
Under HIPAA, which of the following is permitted without separate patient authorization?
Answer: Sharing information with other treating healthcare providers
HIPAA permits sharing patient information with other healthcare providers directly involved in that patient's treatment as part of coordinated care.
A medication aide suspects that a resident is being physically abused. What is their legal obligation?
Answer: Report the suspicion to the appropriate authority immediately
Medication aides are mandatory reporters who must immediately report any reasonable suspicion of abuse to a supervisor or the appropriate state agency.
Which document allows a competent adult to specify their healthcare wishes in the event they become unable to make decisions?
Answer: Advance directive
An advance directive is a legal document completed while a person is competent that specifies their healthcare preferences if they later become incapacitated.
Which action by a medication aide could constitute negligence?
Answer: Administering medication without verifying the patient's identity
Failing to verify patient identity before medication administration is a breach of the standard of care that constitutes negligence and endangers patient safety.