| A | B |
|---|
| Law | A binding set of rules created and enforced to regulate behaviour, maintain order, and protect individual rights. |
| Medical Office Administrator Legal Role | The MOA supports legal and ethical practice through careful scheduling, communication, documentation, and handling of patient information. |
| Agent | A staff member who represents the healthcare facility; the organization or provider may be responsible for their actions. |
| Ask Document Escalate | A practical approach used when unsure: ask questions, document concerns appropriately, and escalate to a supervisor or provider. |
| Contract | A legally binding agreement between two or more parties that creates mutual obligations. |
| Provider-Patient Relationship | A special contractual and fiduciary relationship between a healthcare provider and patient. |
| Offer and Acceptance | A requirement for a valid contract in which one party offers something and the other accepts. |
| Legal Capacity | The ability to understand and agree to a contract, treatment, or decision. |
| Consideration | Something of value exchanged between parties in a contract. |
| Fiduciary Relationship | A relationship where one party has a responsibility to act in the best interests of another party. |
| Fiduciary | The person or party responsible for acting in the best interests of another. |
| Beneficiary | The person who receives protection or benefit in a fiduciary relationship. |
| Trust | An important feature of the fiduciary provider-patient relationship. |
| Professional Responsibility | The obligation to act ethically, carefully, and within the expectations of the healthcare role. |
| Imbalance of Power | A situation where one party has more knowledge, authority, or control than another, as in the provider-patient relationship. |
| Honest and Ethical Behaviour | Conduct that supports trust, fairness, and professional responsibilities in healthcare. |
| Best Interests | The requirement that providers act in a way that supports the patient’s welfare. |
| Reasonable Care | Care using the caution and concern an ordinarily prudent and rational physician would use in similar circumstances. |
| Abandonment | Ending or interrupting care without giving the patient reasonable notice or support to find another provider. |
| Confidentiality | The responsibility to protect patient information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. |
| Informed Consent | Consent based on understanding the nature, benefits, risks, alternatives, and consequences of treatment or information sharing. |
| Patient Responsibilities | Responsibilities such as cooperating with care plans, communicating honestly, and maintaining healthcare coverage information. |
| Ending the Provider-Patient Relationship | The process of ending care, usually requiring written notice, reasonable time to find another provider, and transition support. |
| Withdrawal of Services | A provider’s decision to discontinue care for a patient while following appropriate legal and professional procedures. |
| Immediate Termination | Ending the provider-patient relationship right away in situations such as threats of violence, fraud, theft, or unsafe behaviour. |
| De-Roster | To remove a patient from a provider’s roster or patient list, sometimes required before seeking care elsewhere. |
| Legal Risk | A situation or action that may create legal consequences for healthcare workers, providers, or organizations. |
| Medical Negligence | When a provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in patient harm or injury; generally unintentional. |
| Standard of Care | The accepted level of care expected from a healthcare provider in similar circumstances. |
| Medical Malpractice | Actions or omissions resulting in patient harm when there is intentional wrongdoing or reckless disregard for patient safety. |
| Reckless Disregard | Ignoring standards or risks in a way that may harm patient safety. |
| Assault | Threatening, attempting, or applying force to another person without consent. |
| Assault in Healthcare | A legal risk that may occur when treatment is performed without consent, a patient is touched without permission, or force is used inappropriately. |
| Assault Causing Bodily Harm / Battery | Application of force that causes significant harm affecting a person’s health and well-being. |
| Canada Health Act | A law outlining federal and provincial responsibilities for publicly funded healthcare in Canada. |
| Regulated Health Professions Legislation | Laws that regulate healthcare professions and define scopes of practice. |
| Scope of Practice | The range of activities and responsibilities a regulated healthcare professional is authorized to perform. |
| Hospital and Public Hospital Legislation | Provincial laws that govern hospital administration, management, and patient care standards. |
| Mandatory Reporting | Legal requirements for healthcare providers to report certain situations to government agencies or regulatory bodies. |
| Duty to Report | A legal obligation to report specific concerns or events, such as some safety or public health issues. |
| Permission to Warn | A situation where a provider may share limited information to help prevent harm to a patient or others. |
| Consent Act | Legislation that sets requirements and parameters for consent to medical care or treatment. |
| Privacy Legislation | Laws that set rules for how personal health information is collected, used, disclosed, protected, or discarded. |
| Personal Health Information Privacy Act | Legislation that governs privacy rules for personal health information. |
| Consent | Permission for treatment or information sharing that must be informed, capable, voluntary, and specific. |
| Informed Consent Requirement | The requirement that a patient understand the treatment or information sharing before agreeing. |
| Voluntary Consent | Consent given freely, without coercion or pressure. |
| Specific Consent | Consent that applies to a particular treatment or specific information to be shared. |
| Consent Form | A document used to record consent for treatment or disclosure of personal health information. |
| Disclosure of PHI | Sharing personal health information with another person or organization when authorized or legally permitted. |
| Personal Health Information (PHI) | Recorded, identifiable information about a person’s physical or mental health, healthcare history, or provision of services. |
| Release of Information (ROI) | The authorized sharing or disclosure of patient information to another individual or organization. |
| Privileged Communication | Protection of information shared between patients and healthcare providers; information cannot be shared without proper protocols. |
| Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) | A person authorized to make personal care and healthcare decisions for an incapable patient. |
| Power of Attorney (POA) | A legal document authorizing another person to make certain decisions on someone’s behalf. |
| Health Care Proxy (HCP) | A person who may make healthcare decisions when a patient cannot communicate or decide independently. |
| Power of Attorney for Personal Care (POAPC) | A person or document authorizing someone to make personal care decisions when a patient cannot do so. |
| Advance Healthcare Directive | A document that records a patient’s wishes about future healthcare decisions and end-of-life care. |
| Personal Care Directive | A document that may record a person’s wishes and decision maker for future personal or healthcare decisions. |
| Circle of Care | Healthcare professionals directly involved in a patient’s care who may share relevant patient information to provide treatment and services. |
| Express Consent | Consent clearly and directly communicated by the patient, either verbally or in writing. |
| Implied Consent | Consent assumed based on a patient’s actions, behaviour, or the situation. |
| Need-to-Know Principle | The principle that staff should only access or share information needed to perform their role. |
| Privacy Breach | An incident where personal health information is accessed, used, disclosed, or exposed improperly. |
| Minimum Necessary Information | Only the smallest amount of information needed for the purpose should be shared. |
| Sensitive Information | Information that requires extra care because disclosure could affect privacy, dignity, or safety. |
| Workplace Privacy Policy | An organizational policy that guides staff in protecting patient privacy and handling personal health information. |
| Physical Safeguard | A physical measure used to protect information, such as locking screens or preventing others from viewing documents. |
| Electronic Safeguard | A technology-based measure used to protect information, such as logging out of workstations or limiting access. |
| ROI Form | A form commonly used to document authorization for release of patient information. |
| Written Authorization | Written permission to disclose information or proceed with a specific action. |
| Reasonable Time to Respond | A period allowed for a clinic to process requests, such as requests for copies of health records. |
| Front Desk Privacy | Protecting personal health information during reception interactions by using neutral language and avoiding public discussion of sensitive details. |
| Voicemail Privacy | Leaving only minimal information on voicemail unless workplace policy or patient consent allows more detail. |
| Mature Minor | A minor who may be considered capable of making certain healthcare decisions, depending on jurisdiction and provider assessment. |
| Legal Authority | Proper legal permission, such as a warrant, subpoena, patient consent, or law permitting disclosure. |
| Confidentiality Response | The process of verifying consent, following policy, documenting concerns, and escalating when unsure. |
| Health Care Consent Act | Ontario legislation related to consent for healthcare treatment. |
| Medical Consent of Minors Act | New Brunswick legislation related to medical consent for minors. |
| Advance Health Care Directives Act | New Brunswick legislation related to advance healthcare decision-making. |
| Medical Consent Act | Nova Scotia legislation related to consent to medical treatment. |
| PHIPA | Personal Health Information Protection Act in Ontario. |
| PHIPPA | Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act in New Brunswick. |
| PHIA | Personal Health Information Act in Nova Scotia. |
