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absconding
leaving an inpatient facility without permission, which can include failing to return from an authorized leave
assault
intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact
autonomy
ability to make decisions with one’s own free choice, if competent to do so
battery
intentional causation of harmful or offensive contact with another person without that person’s consent
beneficence
doing or producing good for others
client confidentiality
expectation that information shared with the health-care providers or organization will not be divulged
duty to warn
professional responsibility to warn another person if they are being threatened
false imprisonment
confining a person without the consent of the person or legal authority
fidelity
devotion to obligations and duties
fraud
deceiving another for personal gain
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive client health information from being disclosed without the client’s consent or knowledge
informed consent
communication between a client and a health-care provider that results in agreement and permission by the client for treatment or services
intentional tort
wrong that the defendant knew (or should have known) would be caused by their actions
libel
published untrue statement that damages a person’s reputation
malpractice
when a professional fails to exercise their duty of care to a client
mandatory reporting
obligation to report to stated authorities when neglect or abuse is suspected
negligence
failure to exercise care that a reasonable person in the same circumstances would have exercised
nonmaleficence
doing no harm
patient bill of rights
minimum standards for the ways that clients can expect to be treated by health-care professionals
privileged communication
confidential conversations between parties deemed to be protected
protected health information (PHI)
any information in the medical record that can be used to identify an individual and that was created, used, or disclosed while providing a health-care service
right to privacy
belief that one’s personal information is protected from public access
slander
false statement that harms a person’s reputation
standards of care
guidelines that create a baseline of appropriate (reasonable) professional conduct for nurses
tort
commission or omission that harms someone, creating a civil case for courts to adjudicate liability
unintentional tort
wrong that occurs when a defendant’s actions or inactions were reckless or unreasonably unsafe
veracity
telling the truth
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