Core Competency #3: Legal and Ethical Responsibilities and Obligations in Caring for Patients with Disabilities

Dr. James Duffee, MD, MPH, FAAP; Christopher C. Camboni, Esq.

There are significant legal and ethical considerations in treating patients with disabilities. Federal laws are in place to protect the civil rights of patients with disabilities and prevent discrimination in health care settings. The pandemic brought to the forefront ethical issues such as “rationing of care”. Learners will deepen their understanding of these issues to meet the individual needs of people with disabilities.

Learning Objectives

After completing this training, attendees will:

• Identify legal requirements for providing health care in a manner that is, at minimum, consistent with federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act, and Social Security Act to meet the individual needs of people with disabilities, including the areas of physical access, communication, and accommodations.
• Discuss strategies for meeting access requirements (e.g., needed accommodations) of the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and related laws and policies.
• Apply the medical code of ethics to patients with disabilities, considering issues related to communication, decision-making, confidentiality, and care.
• Recognize issues related to legal guardianship (e.g., consent to treatment, HIPAA, privacy) in the health care system.
• Assess their own ability and the ability of others in their practice (including support staff) to provide services that meet the needs of the patient with a disability (e.g., knowing how to appropriately transfer a patient with a mobility limitation to an exam table).
• Determine their own need for further training and/or skill development in caring for patients with disabilities and take action to address those needs based on current best practices.