Category: S

The act of a patient to sign a document (release form) (1) refusing the recommendations of the physician and (2) releasing the physician and the hospital from liability-“signing himself out” (discharging himself) rather than being “signed out” (discharged) by the physician, which is the normal procedure-and leaving the hospital. The act of leaving the hospital…

A sudden disturbance of the emotions and the mind caused by an unexpected and major event.  

In relation to injury, “shock” refers to a sudden failure of circulation, with a drop in blood pressure, pale skin, drop in body temperature, and other signs. Shock may be caused by blood loss, but also by a general reaction of the body to the injury. Immediate treatment is essential to sustain life, and to…

One of the primary federal antitrust laws. Section 1 of the Sherman Act prohibits contracts, combinations, and conspiracies in restraint of trade, and Section 2 prohibits monopolies and attempts to monopolize. The Sherman Act has been interpreted by the courts to apply only to unreasonable restraints of trade, since every contract restrains commerce to some…

The owner of shares of stock in a corporation.  

Interactive laser disc computer programs to assist patients in medical decision making by providing them with general and specific information about their condition and the potential harms and benefits of the alternative medical and surgical treatments. SDMP are available for an increasing number of conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, low back pain, mild hypertension, breast…

Setting the price for a product by matching the price for the same or similar product to that of a competitor. Some HMOs are said to have failed because they have used this method in establishing their premiums rather than actuarial analysis, in which the premium is set by defining a specific benefit package to…

The American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs states that “sexual contact or a romantic relationship concurrent with the physician-patient relationship is unethical,” and that “sexual contact or a romantic relationship with a former patient may be unethical under certain circumstances.” The Council goes on to state “in the case of sexual…

A form of discrimination in the workplace which violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (a federal law; 42 U.S.C. secs. 2000 et seq.). “Sexual harrassment” can be of two forms: (1) “quid pro quo” (the employee must submit to sexual advances to obtain tangible job benefits, or be penalized for refusing); or (2) “hostile…

A genetic characteristic, such as color-blindness, that is determined by a gene on a sex chromosome and shows a different pattern of inheritance in males and females. A trait controlled by genes on the sex chromosomes. The X and Y chromosomes determine sex but also carry genes unrelated to sex.