plaintiff: See "claimant.
privacy: the right "to be
let alone," to be
free from unwarranted publicity, to
live
without having one's name, picture, or private affairs made public or published
against one's will (para 3-6).
private law: a body of laws governing the relationship between private individuals
and organizations (para 3-7b).
privileged (confidential) communication: communication between parties in a
confidential relationship (physician-patient, lawyer-client, clergyman-layperson,
husband-wife). The confidence is transmitted under circumstances implying it shall
forever remain a secret (para 3-10a).
professional ethics: a set of standards of professional conduct set down in codes
(para 1-5b).
professional code of ethics: a statement of role morality for a given profession, as
expressed by member of that profession, rather than external bodies such as
governmental agencies (para 1-5b).
professional practice standard of disclosure: a standard of disclosure that
requires the physician to disclose what any reasonable health care provider would
communicate in the same or a similar circumstance (para 1-14b).
proximate cause (causation): the process of establishing the causal link between
breach of duty and injury (para 4-9).
public law: a body of laws governing the relationship between private individuals
and government (or governmental agencies) in order to protect society as a whole
(para 3-7c).
punitive damages: compensation set at a high level in order to punish the actor
and serve as an example to deter others (para 4-2b).
Q
R
reasonable person (materiality) standard of disclosure: See "materiality
(material risk) standard of disclosure."
reasonable person standard of duty: a measurement of the actors conduct
against what a reasonably prudent person would have done under the same or a
similar circumstance (para 4-7a).
res ipsa loquitur: the legal doctrine in which all four elements of actionable
negligence need not be proven; literal meaning: "the thing speaks for itself" (para
5-1a).
respondeat superior: the legal doctrine that holds the employer liable for negligent
torts committed by the employee within the scope of the employee's duties or
employment. Literal meaning is "let the master answer." (The employer is not
generally liable for the intentional torts of its employees) (para 5-3a).
MD0067
C-5