Legal Principles in Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real CFN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Legal Principles in Nursing flashcards as text
Which legal principle protects a patient's right to make decisions about their own healthcare?
Answer: Autonomy
Autonomy is the ethical and legal principle recognizing a patient's right to self-determination in healthcare decisions.
A nurse documents fabricated findings in a forensic report to support law enforcement. This action constitutes:
Answer: Fraud and falsification of records
Fabricating documentation is fraud and falsification of records, which violates both professional and criminal law.
Under HIPAA, which of the following disclosures of PHI to law enforcement is permitted WITHOUT patient authorization?
Answer: Disclosing information in response to a valid court order
HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI to law enforcement in response to a court order, subpoena, or warrant without patient authorization.
When a forensic nurse acts as a patient advocate in legal proceedings, the primary obligation is to:
Answer: Provide objective, unbiased findings
Forensic nurses must provide objective, unbiased findings and testimony; advocacy for truth serves all parties in the justice system.
What does 'informed consent' require a healthcare provider to disclose before a forensic examination?
Answer: The purpose, procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
Informed consent requires disclosure of the purpose, procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives so the patient can make an autonomous decision.
A nurse inadvertently loses evidence collected from a sexual assault survivor. The most likely legal consequence is:
Answer: Potential criminal charge of obstruction and civil liability
Loss of evidence can result in criminal charges of evidence tampering or obstruction and civil liability for harm caused to the victim's case.
Which standard applies when determining whether a forensic nurse's actions constituted negligence?
Answer: What a reasonably prudent forensic nurse would have done
Negligence is measured against the standard of care of a reasonably prudent forensic nurse with similar training and experience in the same circumstances.