| A | B |
|---|
| criminal law | addresses crime and punishment and involves legal action against an individual by the state |
| civil law | deals with noncriminal matters |
| tort | deals with civil wrongs committed by one individual against another, such as a malpractice suit |
| assault | any action that places a person in fear of immediate bodily harm |
| false imprisonment | intentional and unjustified detention of a person against his or her will |
| duty to act | the obligation to respond to a situation |
| libel | act of injuring someone's name or character by false or malicious writing |
| negligence | deviation from accepted standard of care |
| battery | act of unlawfully touching another person without his or her consent |
| abandonment | termination of a heart care provider-patient relationship without assurance that equal or greater care will continue |
| slander | act of injuring someone's name or character by false or malicious spoken words |
| medical practice act | state legislation that sets the standards for the practice of medicine |
| delegation of authority | the EMT functions as the agent of medical control, or an authorized physician |
| living will | legal document by which a patient specifies the kinds of medical treatment he or she wishes to receive in cases of serious injury or illness |
| durable power of attorney for health care | legal document that designates another person to make health-care decisions for a patient |
| do not resuscitate order | order written by a physician directing that resuscitation should be withheld; when in doubt of a DNR's authenticity, resuscitation should be provided |
| informed consent | consent obtained only after the patient understands the nature, extent, and potential risks of treatment; required prior to beginning prehospital care. REquired for prehospital care to begin legally |
| expressed consent | occurs when a patient verbally, nonverbally, or in writing, gives permission to receive medical treatment |
| implied consent | presumed from a patient who is unable to provide informed consent either due to inability to communicate or mental impairment |
| non-voluntary consent | consent for treatment issued by the court and against the patient's wishes |
