those authorized or based on law focuses on wrongs against a person, property or society Examples include: Practicing without a license Misuse of narcotics Theft Murder focuses on legal relationships between people and the protection of a persons rights. Examples include: Contracts wrongful acts that do not involve contracts; can lead to legal action. A tort occurs when a person is harmed or injured because a healthcare worker does not meet the expected standards of care. Examples include: failure to give care that is normally expected of a person in a particular position, resulting in injury Leaving bed siderails down Not reporting defective equipment Infections resulting from non-sterile supplies closely related and often used together Assault: threat or attempt to injure; absence of contact Battery: unlawful touching of another person without *consent: contact must occur Examples of assault and battery include performing a procedure after the patient has refused permission improper treatment or rough handling of a patient * Consent: Some procedures require written consent. Verbal consent is permitted in other cases but this must be informed consent. Informed consent must meet the following criteria : voluntary patient is of sound mind procedure has been explained in language the patient can understand Invasion of privacy : unnecessarily exposing an individual or revealing personal information about a person without their consent Improper draping Passing on information to insurance company without consent Talking to the media about an individual without consent False Imprisonment :restraining an individual or restricting their freedom Keeping patients in hospital against their will Applying physical restraints without authorization Abuse : Any care that results in physical harm, pain or mental anguish Physical Verbal Psycological Sexual Patients may experience abuse prior to admission so health care workers need to watch for Unexplained bruises, fractures, etc Signs of neglect Etc These need to be reported to the proper authorities Defamation: false statements that cause a person to be ridiculed or that damage their reputation Slander if spoken Libel if written