The student will be able to:

1. Describe the origins of the healing arts and list the major milestones in the development of codes of behavior and ethical standards in the healing arts.
2. Explain the role of ethical behavior in health care delivery in terms of personal honesty, integrity, accountability, competence, and compassion.
3. Employ a basic system of examination, clarification, determination of alternatives, and decision-making in addressing ethical questions.
4. Explain the legal responsibilities of the profession and the legal doctrines that govern them.
5. Explain the radiographer's role embodied in the principles of patient's rights, the conditions of informed consent, and right of refusal.
6. Identify issues of health literacy, and language and communication barriers that impact consent.

1. Origins and history of medical ethics
   1. Origins of the healing arts
   2. Principles, duties, and virtues of a health professional
   3. Milestones in the history of medical ethics
2. Ethics and ethical behavior
   1. Ethical theories
   2. Moral reasoning
   3. Personal behavior standards
      1. Core values
      2. Values clarification
      3. 3 types of values
         1. Personal
         2. Cultural
         3. Professional
   4. Competence
   5. Professional attributes
      1. Compassion
      2. Empathy
      3. Sympathy
      4. Honesty
      5. Integrity
      6. Accountability
   6. Scope of practice defined
   7. Self-assessment and self-governance
   8. Continuing professional education
   9. American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Standards of Ethics
      1. Code of Ethics
      2. Rules of Ethics
   10. Seven principles of biomedical ethics
       1. Beneficence
       2. Nonmaleficence
       3. Respect for autonomy
       4. Veracity
       5. Role fidelity
       6. Confidentiality
       7. Justice
   11. Organization ethics
   12. Systematic analysis of ethical problems
   13. Ethical violations and sanctions
3. Ethical issues in health care
   1. Individual and societal rights
   2. Cultural considerations
   3. Economic considerations
   4. Technology and scarce resources
   5. Access to quality health care
   6. Human experimentation and research
   7. End of life issues
      1. Quality of life
      2. Advanced Directives
      3. Euthanasia and suicide
   8. Ethical research
      1. Institutional review board approval
      2. Data collection
      3. Data reporting
   9. Radiology-specific ethical issues
      1. Operation and manipulation of electronic data
         1. Image cropping
         2. Editing metadata
      2. Editing image data
   10. ALARA
       1. Dose creep
       2. Alteration of exposure indicators
       3. Brightness and contrast manipulation
       4. Processing algorithms
4. Legal doctrines and standards
   1. Parameters of legal responsibility
   2. Torts
      1. Intentional and unintentional
      2. Libel and slander
      3. Assault and battery
      4. False imprisonment
      5. Invasion of privacy
      6. Breach of confidentiality
   3. Negligence/malpractice
      1. Definitions
      2. Elements
      3. Malpractice prevention and risk reduction
   4. Legal doctrines
      1. Vicarious liability
      2. Respondeat superior
      3. Res ipsa loquitur
   5. Legal and professional standard
      1. Standard of care
      2. Scope of practice
         1. Restraints vs. immobilization
   6. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
      1. Confidentiality of patient medical records
         1. Written
         2. Electronic
      2. Electronic communication
         1. Cell phones
         2. Social networking sites
         3. Email
         4. Photography
      3. Exceptions to privacy rules
         1. Statutory duty to report
            1. Mandated reporting
               1. Elder and child abuse neglect and abuse
            2. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) mandatory adverse event reporting
   7. Legal risk reduction and risk management
      1. Role of caring and compassion in reducing litigation
      2. Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals
   8. Medical records
      1. Timely, accurate, and comprehensive methods of documentation
      2. Radiographic images as legal documents
      3. Manipulation of electronic data
5. Patient consent
   1. Definition
   2. Types
      1. Simple
      2. Implied
      3. Informed
   3. Conditions for valid consent
   4. Documentation of consent
   5. Right of refusal
   6. Radiographer's role
      1. Obtaining valid consent
         1. Patient assessment
         2. Information delivery
         3. Obstacles to autonomy and consent process
   7. Health literacy
      1. Definition
      2. Factors contributing to low health literacy
      3. Legal implications
      4. Language and communication barriers
         1. Interpreters
         2. Translation

Not applicable.

Quizzes
Midterms
Research paper
Creative group project
Discussion participation
In-class activities
Final examination

Lecture
Discussion
Online learning modules
Cooperative learning exercises

Towsley-Cook, D.M., and T.A. Young. Ethical and Legal Issues For Imaging Professionals. 2007.

Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains a seminal text in this area of study.

1. Weekly reading assignments from text and syllabus, approximately one chapter per week
2. Research project, based on a medical malpractice case. Student must assess the case for medical negligence; evaluate which of the ethical principles were violated; and, utilizing the Dowd Model, outline the issue and steps necessary to avoid similar situations in the future
3. Research and planning of a creative project involving radiologic technology professional code of ethics
4. Complete Mandated Reporter Training for Child and Elder Abuse and Neglect