Transcript 4_Medical_ethics__1210

Medical Law and Ethics
Lesson 4:
Medical Ethics
Medical Ethical Issues
(do throughout classtime)
Activity
 One ethical issue per student
 Read and discuss
 Keep an open mind
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Lesson
Objectives
Lesson Objectives
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Upon completion of this lesson, students should
be able to …
List and discuss the main points of the
AAMA Principles of Medical Ethics.
Discuss what is meant by the medical
assistant’s standard of care.
Lesson
Objectives
Lesson Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students
should be able to …
 Describe the Patient’s Bill of Rights.
 Explain the HIPAA guidelines concerning
the patient’s right to privacy and
confidentiality in the medical office.
© 2009 Pearson Education
Creed of the AAMA
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I believe in the principles and purposes of the
profession of medical assisting.
I endeavor to be more effective.
I aspire to render greater service.
I protect the confidence entrusted to me.
I am dedicated to the care and well-being of all
people.
I am loyal to my employer.
I am true to the ethics of my profession.
I am strengthened by compassion, courage, and
faith.
Critical Thinking Question
1.
When might it be difficult to live up to
this creed?
Medical Assistant’s Standard
of Care
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Actions = legal consequences for the
physician who employs you
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MA’s not held to the same standard of
care as MD’s because :
◦ Different education
As a Medical Assistant, You Are
NOT Expected to….
Diagnose
 Interpret tests
 Prescribe medications
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An MA must take caution to not do anything for
which he or she is not trained and remain within the
scope of his or her practice.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights
See Handout
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The patient has the right to considerate
and respectful care.
The patient has the right to and is
encouraged to obtain from physicians and
other direct caregivers relevant, current,
understandable information concerning
diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights
3.
The patient has the right to make decisions
about the plan of care prior to and during
the course of treatment and to refuse a
recommended treatment or plan of care to
the extent permitted by law and hospital
policy and to be informed of the
consequences of this action.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights
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The patient has the right to have an
advance directive (such as a living will,
health care proxy, or durable power of
attorney for health care) concerning
treatment or designating a surrogate
decision maker with the expectation that
the hospital will honor the intent of that
directive to the extent permitted by law
and hospital policy.
The patient has the right to every
consideration of privacy.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights
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The patient has the right to expect that all
communications and records pertaining to his
or her care will be treated as confidential by
the hospital, except in cases such as suspected
abuse and public health hazards when
reporting is permitted or required by law.
The patient has the right to review the
records pertaining to his or her medical care
and to have the information explained or
interpreted as necessary, except when
restricted by law.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights
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The patient has the right to expect that,
within its capacity and policies, a hospital will
make reasonable responses to the request of
a patient for appropriate and medicallyindicated care and service.
The patient has the right to ask and be
informed of the existence of business
relationships among the hospital, educational
institutions, other health care providers, or
payers that may influence the patient’s
treatment or care.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights
The patient has the right to consent to or
decline to participate in proposed research
studies or human experimentation affecting
care and treatment or requiring direct patient
involvement, and to have those studies fully
explained prior to consent.
11. The patient has the right to expect reasonable
continuity of care when appropriate and to be
informed by physicians and other caregivers of
available and realistic patient care options
when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
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The Patient’s Bill of Rights
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The patient has the right to be informed of
hospital policies and practices that relate to
patient care, treatment, and responsibilities.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996
Regulates the privacy of patient health
information
 Was an effort to reduce the cost of
health care and streamline the system
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HIPAA
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objectives:
◦ Improve the portability of health
insurance
◦ Combat fraud, abuse, and waste
◦ Simplify health insurance
Patient Rights Under HIPAA
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Right to a copy of the privacy notice
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Right to manage their medical
records
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Right to limit how information is
shared
Patient Rights Under HIPAA
 Right
to view their health
information
 Right
to complain
HIPAA Training
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All medical office employees must
undergo HIPAA training during
their orientation
HIPAA Requirements
 Patient
information
may not be
shared with
others without
written
authorization
HIPAA Requirements
 computers
must be
secured!
HIPAA Requirements
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Faxes and e-mails must have a note
stating that the information is
confidential.
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If accidentally transmitted the
recipient must immediately notify
the office and destroy the
information.
Critical Thinking Questions
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Why is confidentiality important?
Should friends or family have access to a
patient’s medical information? Why or
why not?
What confidentiality challenges does
communications technology bring?
What Do You Do?
When a physician performs a
procedure that you strongly disagree
with ethically (such as an abortion)?
Recommendations
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Discuss during the interview
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You may consider not taking the job
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Remember – the health and safety
of the patient is always the priority
What Do You Do?
1. When one of your patients
expresses an opinion or belief with
which you strongly disagree?
2. When a coworker expresses an
opinion or belief with which you
strongly disagree?