| A | B |
|---|
| liable | legally responsible for one's own actions |
| libel | communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person in writing |
| licensure | authorization by the state to perform the functions of an occupation for which educational and examination standards are specified |
| litigation | a lawsuit or legal action |
| malpractice | negligence committed by a professional person; care below the expected community standard that has led to injury |
| misdemeanors | crimes that are less serious than felonies and result in imprisonment for less than one year |
| negligence | failure to perform duties in a reasonable and customary way, by action or by omission |
| plaintiff | one who intitiates a lawsuit |
| privileged communication | personal or private information relating to the care given by health care eprsonnal; cannot be disclosed without the patient's consent |
| reasonable care | services given in a manner appropriate to the level of education and experience of the health care provider |
| respondeat superior | responsibility of the employer for the employee |
| slander | verbally communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person |
| statute | a law which is enacted by the legislative branch of government |
| statute of limitations | the time established for filing lawsuits |
| statutory law | law established by the legislative branch of government that determines what is illegal |
| subpoena | a writ that commands a witness to appear at a trial or other proceeding and to give testimony |
| tort | a private or civil wrong |
| unethical | action that does not represent ideal behavior but may not be illegal |
| value system | ideals and thoughts that determine what is considered worthwhile or meaningful, right or wrong |
| will | written document that allows a person to distribute property after death |
