| A | B |
|---|
| Consent | Agreement to what another person proposes or desires or a course of action; requires information, understanding and voluntariness. |
| Personal health information | Identifying information about an individual's health or healthcare that must be collected, used, and disclosed appropriately. |
| PHIPA | Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act, which governs collection, use, and disclosure of personal health information. |
| PHIA | New Brunswick Personal Health Information Act legislation used to govern personal health information. |
| Signed consent | Consent documented with a signature from the patient or authorized decision-maker, form of express consent. |
| Validation | A consent condition meaning consent must be signed by the individual or authorized substitute decision-maker, legal guardian, or estate executor. |
| Knowledgeable | A consent condition meaning the patient or signing authority understands why information is collected and how it will be used or disclosed. |
| Relatable | A consent condition meaning consent is connected to the specific purpose of collection and disclosure. |
| Fairness/ Voluntariness | A consent condition meaning consent must be voluntary and the patient must know why consent is being requested. |
| Substitute decision-maker | A person authorized to make decisions for a patient who cannot make the decision themselves. |
| Express consent | Consent given verbally or in writing to collect, use, or disclose personal health information, must also be informed consent. |
| Informed consent | Consent based on understanding relevant information, including diagnosis, procedure, benefits, risks, side effects, and recovery expectations; usually must be voluntary and express. |
| Verbal consent | Consent spoken by the patient or authorized decision-maker rather than written. |
| Implied consent | Consent inferred from the patient's actions, inactions, or the care context: commonly used in ongoing care and within the circle of care. |
| Circle of care | The group of healthcare providers involved in a patient's care who may rely on implied consent for appropriate information sharing. |
| Patient incapacity | A situation where a patient is unable to make an informed decision, which may allow exceptions to signed or express consent. |
| Life-threatening emergency | An urgent situation where necessary care may proceed if consent cannot be obtained in time. |
| Court order | A legal order that may permit or require disclosure of information to the courts without the usual consent process. |
| Police production order | A legal order that may require the production of records or information to police. |
| Right to refuse consent | A patient's right to withhold permission for treatment or for collection, use, or disclosure of personal health information, unless law allows otherwise. |
| Right to withdraw consent | A patient's right to take back consent at any time, unless legislation permits action without consent. |
| Health information custodian | A person or organization responsible for collecting, using, disclosing, and protecting personal health information. |
| Agent (under PHIPA) | any person or entity authorized to act on behalf of an Health Information Custodian to collect, use or disclose personal health information |
| Consent for third-party release | Express consent allowing health information to be shared with someone outside the usual care context. |
| Obtaining consent | The process of ensuring a patient has capacity and understands why information is collected, how it will be used, and whether it will be shared. |
| Capacity to consent | The ability to understand relevant information and appreciate the consequences of a decision. |
| Health literacy | A patient's ability to understand health information and use it to make decisions. |
| Translation services | Language support used to help patients understand information and provide meaningful consent; language is one of the most significant barriers to informed consent. |
| Culturally appropriate communication | Adapting explanations and approaches to respect a patient's cultural needs and perspectives. |
| Ethical decision-making framework | A structured approach used to respond fairly, accountably, and in a patient-centred way to ethical challenges. |
| Gather relevant information | The first step in the ethical decision-making process according to the course content. |
| Identify the ethical problem | The second step in the ethical decision-making process; determining the type of ethical issue involved in a situation. |
| Use ethics theories or approaches | The third step in the ethical decision-making process; analyzing an ethical problem using ethical principles, theories, or approaches. |
| Explore practical alternatives | The fourth step in the ethical decision-making process; considering realistic options before deciding on an ethical action. |
| Complete the action | The fifth step in the ethical decision-making process; carrying out the chosen ethical response. |
| Evaluate the process and outcome | The sixth step in the ethical decision-making process; reviewing what happened, whether the decision was appropriate, and what could be improved. |
| Accountability | Responsibility for decisions made and actions taken in healthcare practice. |
