Duty
Duty (medical)
Duty (pronounced: /ˈdjuːti/) is a term used in the medical field to describe the moral or legal obligation of a healthcare professional to provide care or treatment to a patient. The term originates from the Old French word "deu", meaning "due, owed", and later from the English word "due", which has a similar meaning.
Definition
In the context of healthcare, duty refers to the responsibility that healthcare professionals have towards their patients. This includes the obligation to provide appropriate care, to respect patient autonomy, and to act in the patient's best interests. Failure to fulfill these duties can result in legal consequences, such as malpractice lawsuits.
Related Terms
- Medical Ethics: The field of study that deals with the ethical implications of medical practices and procedures, including the duties and responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
- Patient Autonomy: The right of patients to make decisions about their own healthcare, which healthcare professionals have a duty to respect.
- Malpractice: A legal term referring to any professional misconduct or negligence that results in harm to a patient. Healthcare professionals who fail to fulfill their duties may be accused of malpractice.
- Healthcare Professional: An individual who provides preventive, curative, promotional, or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to people, families, or communities.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Duty
- Wikipedia's article - Duty
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