Law, Policy, and Ethics in Healthcare

A legal document stating a person's wishes regarding medical treatment in case they become unable to make their own decisions.

A part of an advanced directive specifying the type of medical treatment a person wants, or doesn't want, in various situations.

A legal document that appoints someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to do so.

A set of ethical principles guiding research involving human subjects.

Protecting individuals with limited decision-making abilities, like fetuses, pregnant women, prisoners, or children.

A research principle emphasizing the importance of minimizing harm and maximizing benefits for participants.

A research principle ensuring fairness in the distribution of benefits and burdens of research.

A committee responsible for reviewing research protocols to ensure they meet ethical standards.

The likelihood of developing a mental illness based on family history.

A specific change in a gene that increases the risk of developing a mental illness.

Treating a person based on the specific type of disease they have, leading to more effective treatments.

Passing a disease from one person to another through direct contact, contaminated objects, or the environment.

The duration of time during which an infected individual can spread a disease.

A group of professionals who review and approve research projects involving human subjects, ensuring ethical practices and participant safety.

Diseases that are not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.

The process of identifying individuals who may have a particular disease or condition early on, often through tests or screenings.

A test result that falsely indicates the presence of a disease when the person is actually healthy.

A test result that falsely indicates the absence of a disease when the person actually has it.

The ability of a test to correctly identify all individuals who have the disease.

The ability of a test to correctly identify all individuals who do NOT have the disease.

Interventions or strategies that aim to prevent or treat diseases in a cost-effective manner, considering the balance between costs and health benefits.

Changes in the body that happen as a result of aging, like wrinkles and slower reaction time.

Changes in the body due to factors like disease, lifestyle, and environment. These changes are not inevitable.

A rapid decline in cognitive and physical abilities that occurs shortly before death.

Changes in the body that are expected to occur with age.

Changes in the body that are influenced by historical events or cultural trends.

Preventing the spread of a disease by physically separating infected individuals from healthy ones.

Using vaccines to stimulate the immune system and create immunity against a disease.

The ability of a population to resist a disease due to a high percentage of immune individuals.

A disease that can be completely eliminated from the world.

A disease is considered eradicated when there is no longer any natural transmission of the disease.

A common health issue for older adults, characterized by joint pain and impairment, stemming from either the body's immune system attacking the joints (autoimmune) or wear and tear on the body's cushioning (osteoarthritis).

A condition where an older person takes multiple medications, often six to seven, simultaneously.

The ability to understand and follow instructions on medication labels, often a challenge for older adults due to various factors like vision and reading ability.

The time it takes for a medication to enter the bloodstream, significantly slower in older adults, potentially leading to toxicity and side effects if not properly timed.

A temporary loss of awareness often caused by medication mistiming in older adults, which can lead to further complications.

The average number of years a person is expected to live, often different for men and women, and varying across ethnic groups.

Activities necessary for daily living, including eating, bathing, walking, using the bathroom, and dressing, often challenged by age.

A program offering financial assistance to family members who provide care for elderly individuals.

Activities beyond basic daily living that require more complex skills, like managing finances, preparing meals, or using transportation.

The harmful effects of tobacco on the body, including addiction due to nicotine.

Government efforts to reduce smoking prevalence, such as warning labels, counter-advertising, and bans on smoking in public places.

Evidence that tobacco companies were aware of nicotine's addictive and harmful properties, despite promoting smoking.

The impact of secondhand smoke, which is proven to be carcinogenic, leading to bans in many public areas.

The increased prevalence of Asian, Hispanic, and Latina populations within the elderly demographic.

Differences in life expectancy across ethnicities, with Asian women tending to live longer than their white counterparts and Black men having the lowest life expectancy.