| A | B |
|---|
| The physician's failure to furnish care for a particular illness for as long as it is required unless the patient has been discharged in an appropriate manner. | abandonment |
| The process whereby a neutral third party judges the merits of a complaint by one party against another, with the consent of the parties; serves as an alternative to trial and the judgment is binding. | arbitration |
| The clear threat of injury to another. | assault |
| Expressed (stated) permission given by the physician and required to convey information about a patient to anyone (including the patient). | authorization |
| Any bodily contact without permission; in medicine, interpreted to include procedures performed without the patient's consent or those that go beyond the degree of consent given. | battery |
| The branch of ethics that deals specifically with medical treatment, technology, and procedure; see ethics. | bioethics |
| The act of adhering to legal rules and regulations as well as high ethical standards through practices and procedures within the medical practice, in all aspects of medical care. | compliance |
| The failure of a patient to follow the advice and/or instructions of the physician, thus contributing to neglect of an outcome that may not be satisfactory. | contributary negligence |
| Those practices of the physician designed to help him or her avoid incurring law suits, such as ordering additional tests to confirm a diagnosis as well as follow-up visits. | defensive medicine |
| A sworn statement to the court before any trial begins and usually made outside of court. | deposition |
| The standards of conduct that grow out of one's understanding of right and wrong. | ethics |
| Those behaviors and customs that are standards for what is considered good manners. | etiquette |
| The patient's approval, which may be given orally or in writing; required for procedures that are not part of routine care. | express consent |
| An intentionally dishonest practice that deprives others of their rights, such as falsifying credentials or submitting false or duplicate insurance claims. | fraud |
| A law designed to protect a physician who provides emergency care from liabilities for civil damages that may arise from the circumstances. | Good Samaritan Act |
| The federal law that protects the security and privacy of health information by regulating how electronic patient information is stored and shared. | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 |
| The patient's agreement that is not stated outright but is shown by the patient's having come to the doctor's office for treatment. | implied consent |
| The ability of the patient to make a sound decision to agree because the problem has been explained in clear language and the physician has given both treatment options and a prognosis. | informed consent |
| Legal responsibility | liability |
| The act of the state whereby health care providers, and those in other professions as well, are granted licenses to practice under certain conditions, including meeting the requirements of education and training. | licensure |
| The bringing of lawsuits against an individual or other entity. | litigation |
| An act that a reasonable and prudent physician would not do or the failure to do some act that such a physician would do. | malpractice |
| The laws of each state governing who must be licensed to give care, the rules for obtaining licensure, grounds for revoking licenses, and the reports required by state law. | medical practice acts |
| Permit granted by a physician to prescribe and dispense drugs. | registration |
| Written permission signed by the patient, authorizing the proper transfer of information to those who have made a legitimate request or have a legitimate need; often called simply a "release". | release of information |
| Agreement by parties on opposing sides; may be the result of a court decision or agreement arrived at without trial; may involve compensation to the complaining party. | settlement |
| A law made by each state government setting a time limit beyond which the collection of a debt, or the prosecution of many kinds of crimes, is not subject to legal action; varies from three to eight years. | Statute of limitations |
| A legal document ordering that all materials related to a lawsuit be delivered to court; also, a legal document requiring people to divulge information. | subpoena |
| Written notice to the person being sued (defendant) ordering the person to answer charges presented in the document. | summons |
