Medical Assistant Certification (CMA / RMA) Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance Syllabus

Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance in Medical Assistant Certification (CMA / RMA), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Legal Foundations of Medical Practice

   5 topics

   • Sources of Law and Scope of Practice
   • Standard of Care and Negligence
     • Four Ds of negligence
     • Malpractice and res ipsa loquitur
   • Consent
     • Informed consent
     • Implied vs expressed consent
   • Contracts and the Physician-Patient Relationship
   • Termination of Care and Abandonment
2. 2

   Patient Rights and Confidentiality

   4 topics

   • HIPAA Privacy Rule
     • Protected health information (PHI)
     • Minimum necessary standard
   • HIPAA Security Rule
   • Patients' Bill of Rights
   • Mandatory Reporting Requirements
     • Communicable diseases
     • Abuse, neglect, and injuries
3. 3

   Medical Ethics and Professional Conduct

   4 topics

   • Principles of Bioethics
     • Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice
   • AAMA Code of Ethics and Creed
   • Ethical Dilemmas in Practice
   • Advance Directives
     • Living wills and durable power of attorney
     • DNR orders
4. 4

   Risk Management and Compliance

   4 topics

   • Incident Reporting and Documentation
   • OSHA and Workplace Safety Regulations
   • CLIA Compliance for Lab Testing
   • Quality Assurance Programs

Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance flashcards for Medical Assistant Certification (CMA / RMA)

22 of 50 cards from the Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the four primary sources of law in the United States?

   Constitutional law, statutory law (legislation), administrative (regulatory) law, and common (case) law.

2. What is the difference between criminal law and civil law?

   Criminal law involves offenses against the state/public and can lead to fines or imprisonment; civil law settles disputes between private parties and typically results in monetary damages. Most medical malpractice cases are civil.

3. What is 'scope of practice' for a medical assistant?

   The range of duties and procedures a medical assistant is legally permitted to perform, as defined by state law and delegated by a supervising physician. MAs cannot diagnose, prescribe, or interpret results independently.

4. Under what legal doctrine is a physician held responsible for the actions of their employees (such as a medical assistant)?

   Respondeat superior ('let the master answer') — the employer is vicariously liable for the negligent acts of employees performed within the scope of employment.

5. Define 'standard of care' in a medical setting.

   The level and type of care that a reasonably competent and skilled health professional with similar training would provide under similar circumstances.

6. What are the four elements (the '4 Ds') a plaintiff must prove in a medical negligence case?

   Duty (a duty of care existed), Dereliction (breach of that duty), Direct cause (the breach directly caused harm), and Damages (the patient suffered injury/loss).

7. What is the difference between negligence and malpractice?

   Negligence is failure to exercise reasonable care that a prudent person would. Malpractice is professional negligence — negligence committed by a licensed/trained professional in their professional capacity.

8. What does the legal doctrine 'res ipsa loquitur' mean?

   'The thing speaks for itself' — negligence is so obvious it is presumed (e.g., a surgical instrument left inside a patient), shifting the burden of proof to the defendant.

9. What is informed consent?

   A patient's voluntary agreement to a treatment or procedure after being told the diagnosis, the nature/purpose of the procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusing.

10. What is the difference between expressed consent and implied consent?

    Expressed consent is given explicitly in words (spoken or written); implied consent is assumed from a patient's actions (e.g., rolling up a sleeve for an injection) or presumed in emergencies.

11. Who may give consent for treatment of a minor?

    Generally a parent or legal guardian. Exceptions include emancipated minors, emergencies, and certain state-defined situations (e.g., STI treatment, reproductive care).

12. What four elements are required to form a valid contract?

    Offer, acceptance, consideration (something of value exchanged), and legal capacity/legality of both parties and the agreement.

13. What is the difference between an expressed contract and an implied contract in the physician-patient relationship?

    An expressed contract is stated in clear words (written or oral); an implied contract is created by the conduct of the parties (e.g., a patient seeks care and the physician provides it).

14. When does a physician-patient relationship legally begin?

    When a physician agrees to take a patient and provides care or advice — establishing a duty to that patient.

15. What is patient abandonment?

    The unilateral termination of the physician-patient relationship by the provider, without proper notice or arrangement for continued care, while the patient still needs treatment.

16. What steps must a physician take to properly terminate the physician-patient relationship?

    Provide written notice (often by certified mail), give reasonable time to find another provider, offer to forward records, and continue care during the notice period.

17. What is the purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

    To set national standards protecting individuals' medical records and other personally identifiable health information (PHI), governing how it may be used and disclosed.

18. What does PHI stand for and what is it?

    Protected Health Information — any individually identifiable health information (such as name, diagnosis, dates, account numbers) held or transmitted by a covered entity in any form.

19. Under HIPAA, what is the 'minimum necessary' standard?

    Covered entities must limit the use, disclosure, and request of PHI to the minimum amount needed to accomplish the intended purpose.

20. For what three purposes can PHI be disclosed without specific patient authorization under HIPAA?

    Treatment, Payment, and Health care Operations (TPO).

21. What is a 'covered entity' under HIPAA?

    Health care providers who transmit health information electronically, health plans, and health care clearinghouses.

22. What is a Business Associate under HIPAA?

    A person or entity that performs functions or services for a covered entity involving the use or disclosure of PHI (e.g., billing companies, IT vendors), bound by a Business Associate Agreement.

See more Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance flashcards →

Planning Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance for Medical Assistant Certification (CMA / RMA)

Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance (Medical Assistant Certification (CMA / RMA)) FAQ