Healthcare: Legal and Ethical Considerations
Description
Comprehensive understanding of the legal, regulatory, and ethical environment that governs healthcare delivery, IT systems, and professional practice, focusing on compliance, patient rights, data security, consent, and responsible technology adoption.
Learning Objectives
IT professionals will understand core healthcare legal doctrines, ethical principles, landmark regulations, compliance requirements, and be able to apply these concepts to technology solutions, data management, patient privacy, consent, and provider responsibilities within the healthcare system.
Topics (12)
Overview of foundational doctrines such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and their application to healthcare IT.
Respect for patient autonomy in end-of-life decision-making, advance directives, DNR orders, and digital documentation of care preferences.
Assessment of legal requirements and best practices for handling protected health information (PHI), digital data security, and the implications of unauthorized sharing.
Practical understanding of U.S. privacy and security laws for digital health, breach notification standards, and enforcement effects on IT design and operations.
Focus on legal and ethical standards for obtaining informed patient consent for treatment, sharing of data, telehealth, and research in a digital context.
Covers Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, technology's role in audit detection/prevention, and compliance risk reduction.
Examines risk management, digital documentation, automation, clinical decision support, and error disclosure requirements.
IP protection in health IT, patenting health algorithms, data rights, AI ethics and liability, and digital copyright for emerging health solutions.
Managing competing interests in product development, procurement, clinical trials, and decision support systems. Includes Sunshine Act and anti-bribery law.
Frameworks for triage, rationing, transplant eligibility, healthcare access, and algorithms in resource prioritization.
Elements of an effective compliance program, risk management, continuous training, and legal audit practices in healthcare organizations.
Whistleblower protection mechanisms, reporting requirements, public scorecards, and technology for audit trails and organizational transparency.