Legal + Ethical Glossary by

Credentialing

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 18:13:49 UTC

A process by which a licensed professional shows that he or she is qualified to perform designated clinical activity.

Accreditation

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 22:44:42 UTC

Applies to institutions, not individuals. Institutions are judged on standards of safety and performance.

Licensure

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 22:44:49 UTC

Legally grants permission to a qualified individual to perform certain activities that are considered to be illegal without a license.

Certification

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 22:44:52 UTC

The process by which a non-governmental agency or association grants recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications.

Informed Consent

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 22:46:38 UTC

A patient’s moral and legal right to accept or reject medical treatment.

Autonomy

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 22:50:47 UTC

Supports informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality and rejects medical paternalism by supporting truthfulness.

Beneficence

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:01:10 UTC

Preventing harm, removing conditions that cause harm, and helping people.

Nonmaleficence

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:04:14 UTC

Rejects causing pain and suffering, incapacitating, offending people, and depriving people of the things they value.

Justice

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:06:46 UTC

The distribution of resources and fairness.

Privacy

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:08:27 UTC

Rights possessed by patients. Two types- Privacy in terms of conduct and privacy regarding personal information.

Confidentiality

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:10:08 UTC

The basis of the obligation on the part of health-care providers to protect the right to privacy of patients regarding their medical information.

Morality

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:12:45 UTC

Refers to the standards of behavior involving right and wrong actions

Ethics

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-10 23:14:11 UTC

Health care ethics is a set of moral principles, beliefs and values designed to guide providers in making choices about medical care.

ANA Code of Ethics for Nursing

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:28:24 UTC

A Nurses primary commitment is to the patient, nurses practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and unique attribute of every person and the nurse promotes, advocates for and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.

Nurse Practice Act

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:30:07 UTC

All states and territories have enacted an NPA. Each states NPA is enacted by the state legislature. Each NPA established a board of nursing that has the authority to develop administrative rules and regulations to make the law more specific.

Categorical Imperative Principle

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:32:06 UTC

We can assess the morality of an action by universalizing the basic rule behind that action.

Act Consequentialism

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:34:27 UTC

Theoretical view that each action, each situation must be completely evaluated in terms of the consequences of available alternatives.

Rule Consequentialism

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:35:19 UTC

Following a rule that produces the best consequences if that rule is generally followed by all people in all applicable circumstances.

Kant’s Respect Principle

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:36:24 UTC

Humans should never be treated merely as mean, but always as ends in themselves.

Rule Theory

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:38:15 UTC

Rule theorists believe that basic moral principles, such as the utilitarian greatest happiness principle and Kant’s categorical imperative, are inadequate for moral deliberation. This tells us what we may not do but leaves us free to pursue any positive actions we see as fit. Example: “Do not lie”, “Do not steal”

Utilitarianism

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:39:15 UTC

Dominant theory, acts so as to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.

Greatest Happiness Principle

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:40:49 UTC

Provides that the best action is that which produces the greatest amount of happiness for the largest number of people.

Medical Paternalism

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:42:45 UTC

A paternalistic decision that goes against the desires of another person but is made for the benefit of that person.

Principlism

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:44:07 UTC

A theory that tries to connect various moral perspectives- such as those we have already examined- with bioethical decision making.

The Ethic of Care

gabrielletulimero — 2025-06-11 00:46:53 UTC

An ethical stance that moves from a central role for individual rights and from strict moral rules and principles to a concern for establishing and preserving good relationships, helping others, and promoting mutual well-being.