xi Contents Unit 1 Foundations of Medical Law and Ethics Chapter 1 Overview of Medical Law and Ethics 4 The Importance of Studying Medical Law and Ethics 6 A Brief History of Medical Law 7 The Relationship between Law and Ethics 9 The Healthcare Industry 12 Laws and Ethics Related to Health Careers 14 Chapter Review and Assessment 16 Chapter 2 Professional Ethics 18 An Introduction to Professional Ethics 20 History of Medical Ethics 21 Modern Codes of Professional Ethics 23 The Impact of Politics on Professional Ethics 25 Ethical Principles 27 Professional Codes of Ethics and State Laws 30 Ethical Rights of Patients and Providers 31 Ethical Decision Making 31 Bioethics 34 Policy Response to Changing Standards of Care 35 Medical Ethics Committees 35 Chapter Review and Assessment 38 Chapter 3 The Source of Law and Regulations 40 The Federal Government 43 The Constitution of the United States 43 The Federal Government’s Authority to Regulate Healthcare 54 State Governments 55