Ethics and Safety VALUES AND ETHICS Values Moral

Ethics and Safety

VALUES AND ETHICS § § § Values Moral Values Ethical Dilemma Legal Rights

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS § ARRT Standards of Ethics § Responsibility and Accountability § Resolving Ethical problems

Resolving Ethical problems § List everyone involved and identify perceptions § Presume everyone has patient’s best interest in mind § Gather relevant information § Clarify ethical issues § Determine strengths of each resolution § Use best resolution

7 Biomedical Ethics § § § § Autonomy Nonmaleficence Beneficence Justice Fidelity Veracity Confidentiality

LEGAL CONSIDERATION § State Licensing § Standards of Care: Professional, Clinical, Quality Performance Standards § Informed Consent § Incident Reports § Good Samaritan Laws § Patient Rights

BASIC LEGAL CONCEPTS § § § § Criminal Law Civil Law Negligence and Malpractice Assault and Battery Invasion of Privacy False Imprisonment Defamation of Character

CRIMINAL § § § Individual who threatens society Misdemeanors or felonies Result is punishment of person accused

CIVIL § § Precedents and principles Torts Intentional and Unintentional Compensates client, not to punish accused

NEGLIGENCE § When a healthcare professional provides substandard care.

MALPRACTICE § § § Result of professional misconduct Patient must prove: Tech owed a duty to the patient Tech didn’t carry out duty Patient was injured Patient’s injury was a result of tech’s failure to carry out the duty

Lack of Communication § Most common cause for malpractice § “A patient fell and was injured in the radiology department of a hospital. The radiologist’s defense was that the nurse had not filled out the requisition adequately; therefore, he had no knowledge of the patient’s history of being unable to walk for 6 months. However, the court held the Radiologist liable for negligence in not remaining alert to the reasonable possibility that the patient might faint and fall. ”

Doctrine of Respondeat Superior § Employer will be held liable for an employee’s negligent act. – Employer-employee relationship – Employee must be functioning under the authority of employer § Master-servant relationship: right to control employee’s activities, supervise, pay wage, discharge employee

LEGAL CONCEPTS CONT… § § § Assault Battery Invasion of Privacy False Imprisonment Defamation of Character

SAFETY Emergency Preparedness § Weather Alerts § Bomb Threats § Disaster Plan

Safety Guidelines § § § Walk, don’t run Obey warnings Move cautiously Do not obstruct vision Never use hands to compress trash § Clean spills quickly § Use locks and good body mechanics § Never leave patient unattended on an x-ray table § Keep floors and hallways unobstructed

MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL SAFETY § Visual Inspection § Medical Device Reporting

Electrical Safety Guidelines § § § § Never attempt repair Never pull on cords Do not use multiple adapters or ext cords Always use 3 -pronged plugs Avoid contact with water; hands dry Do not use equipment with frayed cords Keep cords out of doorways and walkways

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS § OSHA Hazardous Communication Rules § Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

PREVENTION OF FALLS § § § Learn condition of patient Keep floors clear Side rails always up Wheelchairs locked NEVER leave patient unattended

FIRE SAFETY § § Pull alarm closest to you Remove persons in danger Turn off equipment and O 2 Close all doors and windows

RACE Guidelines § R – Remove and Rescue § A – Alert, activate alarm and announce § C – Contain by closing doors and windows § E - Extinguish

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS § Paper and wood: Soda and acid water § Rubbish or wood: Dry Chemical § Grease or electrical: Carbon Dioxide § Rubbish, wood, grease, anesthetic: Antifreeze or water

RADIATION SAFETY § ALARA § § § Time Distance Shielding § Hang lead aprons