Patient Abuse

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• Patient Abuse

Detection and Reporting
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Types of Patient Abuse

• PHYSICAL ABUSE
• Acts of commission or omission which have a
  physical impact.
• VERBAL ABUSE
• Teasing, ridiculing, laughing at, scolding.
• Vulgar expressions
• Verbal disrespect directed at one's religion,
  race, color, national origin, sex, age, or
  physical handicap.

3

• FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION
• Use of deception, misrepresentation,
  exaggeration, trickery or falsehood to exploit a
  patient's monetary or material possessions.
• SEXUAL ABUSE OR SEXUAL
  HARASSMENT
• Actions, words, or innuendoes of a sexual nature
  which are offensive or threatening.

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SUSPECT PATIENT ABUSE WHEN There are
unusual or unexplained bruises, burns,
etc., There is evidence of absent or reduced
levels of care which are ordinarily
available, The patient suggests, if not states,
that there might be.

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Rights and Obligations of Observers of Patient
Abuse

• Witnesses to patient abuse are obliged to report
  the incident to their service chief promptly.
• Failure to report may subject the witness to to
  disciplinary action.
• "Individuals acting in good faith in making a
  report are guaranteed immunity from criminal or
  civil liability or professional disciplinary
  action." MCM 122-92-8

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References

• "Handling Alleged Elder Abuse and Neglect"
• MCM 122-92-8, June 1, 1992
• "Patient Abuse"
• MCM 05-88-10, April 14, 1988