Journal of Blood Medicine: “Clinical Applications of Therapeutic Phlebotomy.” British Journal of Haematology: “History of bleeding by phlebotomy.” Today, phlebotomy is used in Western culture for medical testing and to treat only a few specific blood disorders. Phlebotomy is the process of puncture in a vein, usually in the arm, using a cannula for the purpose of drawing blood. The procedure itself is known as venipuncture, which is also used for intravenous therapy. A person who performs a phlebotomy is called a phlebotomy, although most doctors, nurses, and other technicians can also perform a phlebotomy. [1] In contrast, phlebectomy is the removal of a vein. Another problem that falls into the attack and battery category is the use of a dirty needle. Even if excessive force is not applied, a dirty needle can cause life-changing damage. A phlebotomist is legally responsible for ensuring the sterility of all equipment in his charge. Now you know more about the basics of phlebotomy legal questions. These problems are not accidental for a safe and successful phlebotomy career; On the contrary, they are absolutely integral. In the modern world, it is impossible to be an ethical member of a medical team without being aware of the often complicated legal issues surrounding the field. A patient has the right to know that his personal data will not be disseminated by the health professionals responsible for his care. Blood tests are often combined with tests for susceptible diseases, and phlebotomists will receive confidential information about many patients.
They are legally obliged to respect the privacy of their patients. The law that outlines a patient`s right to medical privacy is commonly referred to as HIPAA. Under HIPAA, a patient has a right to privacy with respect to all identifying information, including their diagnosis, treatment, and even date of birth. In Australia, there are a number of phlebotomy courses offered by educational institutions, but training is generally provided on the job. The minimum primary qualification for phlebotomists in Australia is a Certificate III in Pathology Collection (HLT37215) from an accredited educational institution. [9] Normally, blood is sent to a laboratory for analysis. But sometimes blood is taken to treat certain diseases. This is called therapeutic phlebotomy. It removes extra red blood cells, abnormally shaped red blood cells or excess iron in the blood.
Therapeutic phlebotomy is used to treat people with: Phlebotomists are an integral part of a modern medical team. As such, their work involves much more than just the mechanics of taking blood. An important part of training a phlebotomist is learning the ethical and legal issues related to the field of phlebotomy. This article will give you a brief overview of some of the major legal issues that phlebotomists face on a daily basis. Bodily harm simply means making someone fear that bodily harm will be inflicted on them. For the crime of assault to take place, actual physical contact must take place. In phlebotomy, this can be a problem when a phlebotomist forces an injection on a patient against their will. If a phlebotomist intentionally holds a patient or uses more force than necessary, he has committed a battery. Not only can this end a career, but it can also lead to ruinous prosecutions and criminal charges. You might be surprised to see an attack on a list of legal problems in phlebotomy.
Unfortunately, they hide closer to the surface than you might think. If a phlebotomist threatens someone with a needle, he has committed an attack. Simply put, aggression is defined as making someone fear that you are using force to hurt them. This can be a sensitive topic for phlebotomists, as many people are afraid of needles and the pain associated with venipuncture. A well-trained phlebotomist knows how to treat patients safely and legally. “Phlebotomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phlebotomy. Retrieved 11 October 2022. In the United States, special certification is only required in four states: California, Washington, Nevada and Louisiana.
A phlebotomist can be certified nationally by many different organizations. However, California currently only accepts national certificates from six agencies. These include the American Certification Agency (ACA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), National Center for Competency Testing/Multi-skilled Medical Certification Institute (NCCT/MMCI), National Credentialing Agency (NCA), National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and National Phlebotomy Certification Examination (NPCE). [11] These and other agencies also certify phlebotomists outside the state of California. To qualify for an exam, candidates must complete a comprehensive phlebotomy course and demonstrate clinical or laboratory experience. A therapeutic phlebotomy can be performed in the treatment of certain blood diseases (example: hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, porphyria cutanea tarda) and chronic urticaria (in research). [7] [8] Phlebotomies, which are performed in the treatment of certain blood disorders, are called therapeutic phlebotomies. [2] The average volume of whole blood collected from an adult during therapeutic phlebotomy is 1 unit (450-500 mL) per week to once every few months, as needed. [3] Even if a phlebotomist has not committed any of the crimes listed above, he can still be held liable for negligence. Negligence consists of four elements: duty, breach, cause and damage.
This essentially means that in order to sue a physician, a patient must prove that the physician failed to fulfill his or her duty to the patient who was the direct cause of the harm. It may sound simple, but it has been the subject of countless long court battles. Following the basic principles of phlebotomy is one of the best ways for a phlebotomy to avoid accusations of negligence. These sample phrases are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word “phlebotomy”. The views expressed in the examples do not represent the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. The issues discussed here are just the tip of the iceberg. If you would like to continue your education and learn more about phlebotomy, contact PhlebotomyU today. We accompany you during your entry into this exciting and dynamic profession. You may feel a pinch or sting when the needle enters your arm. The needle is attached to a small tube that allows your blood to flow through a test tube or bag. There is little risk.
Although you may find the process uncomfortable, you should go well soon after. University of Wisconsin-Madison Health: “Therapeutic Phlebotomy.” Malpractice is a term for the type of civil lawsuits that patients typically bring against physicians who have not met the standard of care. If a phlebotomist faces a malpractice lawsuit, he or she may not go to jail, but he or she may face other serious consequences. Depending on their jurisdiction and the seriousness of the damage caused, a jury may award substantial financial compensation to the injured party. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing can help. You can also watch something else to distract yourself. It was considered controversial because doctors sometimes took very large amounts of blood. This was the case with George Washington, the first president of the United States.
In 1799, after being outside in snowy weather, he fell ill and developed a fever. To treat him, his doctors drained about 40% of his blood. He died the following night. If you have blood drawn as part of a treatment, the time required depends on the amount of blood needed. Most often, it takes 2-3 minutes to get enough blood for a test. Over the next day, you may see redness or bruising where the needle entered. The place could also be a little painful. Most side effects disappear soon after. Note: Phlebotomy was once commonly used to treat many types of diseases, but it is now limited to treating a few conditions, such as hemochromatosis and polycythemia vera.
PBS.org: “Bleeding and Blisters: Solving the Medical Mystery of George Washington`s Death.” The doctor might tell you to drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol, and not exercise for the next few hours. From ancient Greek: φλεβοτομία (phlebotomy – phleb “blood vessel, vein” + tomia “cut”), via Old French: flébothomie (modern French phlebotomy). [ref. needed] You don`t have to do anything to prepare for most blood tests.