Ethics and SafetyEthics and Safety

VALUES AND ETHICSVALUES AND ETHICS

ValuesValues Moral ValuesMoral Values EthicsEthics Ethical DilemmaEthical Dilemma Legal RightsLegal Rights

PROFESSIONAL ETHICSPROFESSIONAL ETHICS

ARRT Standards of EthicsARRT Standards of Ethics

Responsibility and AccountabilityResponsibility and Accountability

Resolving Ethical problemsResolving Ethical problems

Resolving Ethical problemsResolving Ethical problems

List everyone involved and identify List everyone involved and identify perceptionsperceptions

Presume everyone has patient’s best Presume everyone has patient’s best interest in mindinterest in mind

Gather relevant informationGather relevant information Clarify ethical issuesClarify ethical issues Determine strengths of each resolutionDetermine strengths of each resolution Use best resolutionUse best resolution

7 Biomedical Ethics7 Biomedical Ethics

AutonomyAutonomy NonmaleficenceNonmaleficence BeneficenceBeneficence JusticeJustice FidelityFidelity VeracityVeracity ConfidentialityConfidentiality

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONLEGAL CONSIDERATION

State LicensingState Licensing Standards of Care: Professional, Clinical, Standards of Care: Professional, Clinical,

Quality Performance StandardsQuality Performance Standards Informed ConsentInformed Consent Incident ReportsIncident Reports Good Samaritan LawsGood Samaritan Laws Patient RightsPatient Rights

BASIC LEGAL CONCEPTSBASIC LEGAL CONCEPTS

Criminal LawCriminal Law Civil LawCivil Law Negligence and MalpracticeNegligence and Malpractice Assault and BatteryAssault and Battery Invasion of PrivacyInvasion of Privacy False ImprisonmentFalse Imprisonment Defamation of CharacterDefamation of Character

CRIMINALCRIMINAL

Individual who threatens societyIndividual who threatens society Misdemeanors or feloniesMisdemeanors or felonies Result is punishment of person accusedResult is punishment of person accused

CIVILCIVIL

Precedents and principlesPrecedents and principles TortsTorts Intentional and UnintentionalIntentional and Unintentional Compensates client, not to punish accusedCompensates client, not to punish accused

NEGLIGENCENEGLIGENCE

When a healthcare professional provides When a healthcare professional provides substandard care.substandard care.

MALPRACTICEMALPRACTICE

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

to carry out the duty to carry out the duty

Lack of CommunicationLack of Communication

Most common cause for malpracticeMost common cause for malpractice

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

Doctrine of Respondeat SuperiorDoctrine of Respondeat Superior

Employer will be held liable for an Employer will be held liable for an employee’s negligent act. employee’s negligent act. – Employer-employee relationshipEmployer-employee relationship– Employee must be functioning under the Employee must be functioning under the

authority of employerauthority of employer

Master-servant relationship: right to control Master-servant relationship: right to control employee’s activities, supervise, pay wage, employee’s activities, supervise, pay wage, discharge employeedischarge employee

LEGAL CONCEPTS CONT…LEGAL CONCEPTS CONT…

AssaultAssault BatteryBattery Invasion of PrivacyInvasion of Privacy False ImprisonmentFalse Imprisonment Defamation of CharacterDefamation of Character

SAFETYSAFETYEmergency PreparednessEmergency Preparedness

Weather AlertsWeather Alerts

Bomb ThreatsBomb Threats

Disaster PlanDisaster Plan

Safety GuidelinesSafety Guidelines

Walk, don’t runWalk, don’t run Obey warningsObey warnings Move cautiouslyMove cautiously Do not obstruct visionDo not obstruct vision Never use hands to Never use hands to

compress trashcompress trash Clean spills quicklyClean spills quickly

Use locks and good Use locks and good body mechanicsbody mechanics

Never leave patient Never leave patient unattended on an x-ray unattended on an x-ray tabletable

Keep floors and Keep floors and hallways unobstructedhallways unobstructed

MECHANICAL/ELECTRICALMECHANICAL/ELECTRICALSAFETYSAFETY

Visual InspectionVisual Inspection

Medical Device ReportingMedical Device Reporting

Electrical Safety GuidelinesElectrical Safety Guidelines

Never attempt repairNever attempt repair Never pull on cordsNever pull on cords Do not use multiple adapters or ext cordsDo not use multiple adapters or ext cords Always use 3-pronged plugsAlways use 3-pronged plugs Avoid contact with water; hands dryAvoid contact with water; hands dry Do not use equipment with frayed cordsDo not use equipment with frayed cords Keep cords out of doorways and walkwaysKeep cords out of doorways and walkways

HAZARDOUS MATERIALSHAZARDOUS MATERIALS

OSHA Hazardous Communication RulesOSHA Hazardous Communication Rules

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

PREVENTION OF FALLSPREVENTION OF FALLS

Learn condition of patientLearn condition of patient Keep floors clearKeep floors clear Side rails always upSide rails always up Wheelchairs lockedWheelchairs locked NEVER leave patient unattendedNEVER leave patient unattended

FIRE SAFETYFIRE SAFETY

Pull alarm closest to youPull alarm closest to you Remove persons in dangerRemove persons in danger Turn off equipment and O2Turn off equipment and O2 Close all doors and windowsClose all doors and windows

RACE GuidelinesRACE Guidelines

R – Remove and RescueR – Remove and Rescue

A – Alert, activate alarm and announceA – Alert, activate alarm and announce

C – Contain by closing doors and windowsC – Contain by closing doors and windows

E - ExtinguishE - Extinguish

FIRE EXTINGUISHERSFIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Paper and wood: Soda and acid waterPaper and wood: Soda and acid water

Rubbish or wood: Dry ChemicalRubbish or wood: Dry Chemical

Grease or electrical: Carbon DioxideGrease or electrical: Carbon Dioxide

Rubbish, wood, grease, anesthetic: Rubbish, wood, grease, anesthetic: Antifreeze or waterAntifreeze or water

RADIATION SAFETYRADIATION SAFETY

ALARAALARA

TimeTime DistanceDistance ShieldingShielding

Hang lead apronsHang lead aprons