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4.9. Legal and ethical issues in healthcare (Civics)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Distinguish between “legal” and “ethical” issues in healthcare.
  • Understand key concepts such as patient rights, confidentiality, HIPAA, ethical principles, and legal responsibilities.
  • Analyze case studies to identify legal and ethical dilemmas and propose appropriate actions.
  • Reflect on the importance of legal and ethical responsibilities in their future roles as Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs).
  • Apply legal and ethical principles to real-world scenarios in healthcare.
  • Define basic legal and ethical terms used in healthcare.
  • Identify key patient rights and ethical principles.

Part 1: Warm-Up Discussion

Think about the terms “legal” and “ethical” in the context of healthcare. Answer the following questions:
What does “legal” mean in healthcare?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
What does “ethical” mean in healthcare?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
Can you think of an example of a legal or ethical issue in healthcare?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
Write down key terms shared during the class discussion:
Legal Terms: ____________________________________________
Ethical Terms: ____________________________________________

Part 2: Key Concepts Presentation

Understanding Key Concepts

 

Part 3: Case Study Analysis

Group Case Study
In small groups, read the case study scenario assigned to your group, and discuss to answer the question below the case study.

Case Study 1: Breach of Confidentiality

Scenario: Nurse Ann has a friend whose cousin was recently admitted to the hospital for a personal medical issue. During lunch, Ann casually mentions the cousin’s condition and treatment plan to her friend.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What legal or ethical issues are present in this situation?

  2. Which patient rights or laws may have been violated?

  3. What should Maria have done instead?

  4. How might this situation affect the patient?

Case Study 2: Ignoring Patient Autonomy

Scenario:
Mr. Thompson is a 70-year-old patient who refuses a recommended medical treatment after being informed of the risks and benefits. Despite his refusal, Dr. Patel goes ahead with the procedure, believing it is in the patient’s best interest.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What ethical principles are being challenged here?

  2. Was Dr. Patel’s action legally justified?

  3. What should have been done differently?

  4. How might this decision impact the trust between patient and provider?

Case Study 3: Witnessing Possible Negligence

Scenario:
CMA Jason notices that a fellow staff member repeatedly forgets to sanitize equipment between patient uses. Jason is unsure whether to report the behavior, as the coworker is very experienced and well-liked by the team.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the possible legal and patient safety concerns in this case?

  2. What ethical responsibilities does Jason have?

  3. What steps can Jason take if he feels unsure about reporting?

  4. What policies or protocols should be followed in this situation?

Prepare to present your findings to the class.

 

Part 4: Reflection and Discussion

Class Discussion and Reflection
Listen to the case study presentations from other groups. Take notes on one or two scenarios that stood out to you:
Case Study Title/Scenario: ____________________________________
Key Takeaways: ____________________________________________
After the presentations, participate in a whole-class discussion. Answer the following question:
How would you handle a similar situation in your future role as a CMA?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
Write one key takeaway from today’s lesson on a post-it note. This can be a concept you learned or a reflection on how you would apply these issues in practice.Stick your post-it note on the board and read through others’ takeaways.
Part 5: Recap
Activity: Summarizing the Lesson
Instructions:
Summarize the main points of the lesson. Answer the following questions:
What are the differences between legal and ethical issues?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
Why is understanding patient rights important?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
What are two key ethical principles in healthcare?
Your Answer: ____________________________________________
Ask any remaining questions you have about legal and ethical issues in healthcare:
Question 1: ____________________________________________
Question 2: ____________________________________________

Part 5: Recap

Summarizing the Lesson

Summarize the main points of the lesson. Answer the following questions:

  • What are the differences between legal and ethical issues?
    Your Answer: ____________________________________________
  • Why is understanding patient rights important?
    Your Answer: ____________________________________________
  • What are two key ethical principles in healthcare?
    Your Answer: ____________________________________________
  • Ask any remaining questions you have about legal and ethical issues in healthcare:
    Question 1: ____________________________________________
    Question 2: ____________________________________________

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Basic Skills for Clinical Medical Assistant Copyright © 2025 by Montgomery College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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