Ethical issues related to medical errors can be categorized around four ethical principles: autonomy and right to self-determination; beneficence and nonmaleficence; disclosure and right to knowledge; and veracity. Each of these principles will be discussed below. “Autonomy refers to freedom from external control. In health care the concept applies to provider respect for the autonomy of patients. A commitment to respect the autonomy of others is a fundamental principle of ethical practice” (Potter et al, 2017, p.287). “Concepts of autonomy and right to self determination acknowledge patients’ rights to make their own choices and to take actions based on their personal views and perceived benefits. Healthcare providers have an ethical obligation …show more content…
The principle of beneficence is fundamental to the practice of nursing and medicine. The agreement to act with beneficence implies that the best interests of the patient remain more important than self-interest” (Potter et al, 2017, p.287). As a nurse facing this predicament, it is the ability to help the patient understand that any medications prescribed are in the best interest of the patient. If the patient is unable to physically ingest a medication due to being nauseous the nurse should take action by calling the Physician on duty and advocating for an IV anti-nausea medication to help the patient reduce the symptoms. Though a nurse can be very busy and it can be time consuming to call the doctor making the order recommendation, the nurse must look past ones time restraints and have the patient’s best interest in mind. As a nurse one main intervention is to ensure patient safety comfort by providing medications to patients following protocol avoiding any medication errors that can cause harm. “Nonmaleficence refers to the avoidance of harm or hurt. In health care ethical practice involves not only the will to do right but also the equal commitment to do no harm. A health care professional tries to balance the risks and benefits of care while striving at the same time to do the least harm possible” (Potter et al, 2017, …show more content…
This theory does not focus on the consequences of the actual decision a nurse may make. Instead it looks for characteristics that make the decision right or wrong. This theory can also apply to nursing because this does not look at the negative aspect of this decision. However, in my particular dilemma I believe that Michele the night nurse was using this theory confided by the patients NPO status, therefore she assumed any medications would cause added discomfort and N/V. Though I believe Michele should also be concerned about all symptoms the patient is facing and advocated for IV medications to accurately treat the patient with needed prescriptions the MD ordered. The well being of the patient is a top concern and a nurse should communicate and concerns or issues by collaborating with the health care team. Overall the patient remaining safe while under our care and minimal errors is the top
Patients have the right to self-determination and individuals should have control over their own lives. With respect for human autonomy comes respect for patient rights. Apart of the nurses job is to promote, advocate and protect the rights, health, and safety of our patients. Patients have the right to determine their health needs, make informed decisions, and the right to information regarding their treatment and also the refusal of treatment. Nurses are obligated to know the rights of a patient and to make sure the patient understands their treatment plan. Supporting patient autonomy includes making decisions in the best interest of the patient, considering their values and recognizing differences between cultures. In the treatment
A nurse is given an opportunity to help patients, either if its by helping them through a very serious sickness or just helping a patient get to the bathroom on time, or a time when happiness is overfilling the room and a child is being born. Registered nurses provide a wide variety of patient care services (Mitchell, p.12). A Nurse must always know where to begin and where to stop, as any other career in the health field there is always something that cannot be done by everyone but only the certified person, a nurse must always remain inside her scope of practice to prevent any misunderstandings. A nurse must also follow a code of ethics , the code of ethics of the American Association of Medical Assistants states that a nurse should at all times render service with full respect and dignity of humanity, respect confidential information obtained by a patients file, uphold the honor and high principles the profession and accept its discipline, and last but not least always want to improve her services to better serve the health and well being of the community. (Mitchell, p.65).
Autonomy includes three primary conditions: (1) liberty (independence from controlling influences), (2) agency (capacity for intentional action), and (3) understanding (through informed consent) (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009, p. 100). According to Beauchamp & Childress (2009) to respect autonomous agents, one must acknowledge their right to hold views, to make choices, and to take actions based on their personal values and beliefs (p. 103). Respect for autonomy implies thaturges caregivers to respect theassist a patient in achieving? Heed? the autonomous choices of their patients. From there, patients can act intentionally and with full understanding when evaluating medical treatment modalities. Autonomy also includes a set of rules, one of which requires that providers honor patient decision-making rights by providing the truth, also known as veracity (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009, p. 103). In this case, several facets of the principle of respecting autonomy, specifically veracity, informed
Before we can fully examine how informed consent, patient autonomy and beneficence promote the most good for the patient, we must first define what each of
Nevertheless, nurses can use the principles of ethics to determine their course of action when faced with such
As a result, this challenges the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence. At some point in our lives, we will be a patient in one way or another. As patients, we have the legal right to decide what’s in our best interest when it comes to the management of our health. The concept of autonomy is centered on the idea of self-governance. This means that patients have the right to play an active role in their treatment and medical care plan and have the right to receive or refuse treatment, the right to confidentiality, the right to select a healthcare proxy and the right for informed consent.
This essay will discuss the professional, legal and ethical implications of a nurse’s role when administering medication. To the extent of establishing a formal therapeutic relationship between nurses and service users, by preserving and promoting safety to the general public considering their physical, mental and to some extent spiritual approach of each individual preference choices of accepting or declining treatment.
ethics to be truthful, courageous, showing compassion and commitment at all times to provide safe and effective care for our client. Failure to know the physical state of the clients and to communicate with the team could result in bad practice. For example a health service that does not listen to complaints is unlikely to reflect its patients’ needs. One that does will be more likely to detect the early warning signs that something requires correction, to address such issues and to protect others from harmful. A classic example is The Francis Report (2013) “They were failed by a system which ignored the warning signs and put corporate self-interest and cost control ahead of patients and their safety” therefore as nurses, emphasizing the physical state of clients is essential because it enables to rule out any changes in behaviour before administering the medication (NICE, 2015). The NHS constitution cited from British Journal of Nursing, 2015 has launched that clients and their safety should come first in providing care and is also and ethical principle as nurses, we are obliged to do no harm or to minimise the risk of harm. As a learning disability nurse we have the professional and legal duties to always check clients’ medication against their treatment plan, prescription and clients’ information in accordance to name of drug, administration routes and duration, time of administering, the required dose, and expiry date on the medication before administering, we also need
In this role, nurses ensure that patients receive the necessary care, defend the patients’ rights, assure quality of care, and serve as a link between the healthcare system and the patient. Through advocacy, nurses ensure that the choices of the patient are respected by the multidisciplinary team in the healthcare system and that the patient’s interests are not endangered (Negarandeh et al. 2006). Generally, there are various ways to manage health problem, and each may result in a different outcome. In these preference-sensitive decisions, the nurse must take into consideration the valuations of the patient concerning the outcomes. The nurse should always use effective communication to attempt to uncover the preferences and choices of the patient and follow patient’s wishes (Coulter, Parsons, & Askham 2008). It is vital for nurses to be familiar with patient’s care choices, including those that relate to advance care planning for them to ensure that those choices are protected and respected (Davidson, Banister & de Vries
The ethical term of beneficence provides a framework for nurse’s to promote health and patient’s well- being in general (Ivanov & Oden, 2013). Nurse’s practice beneficence when they directly give care to an individual patient (Bratianu, 2015) or public health nurse’s provide advice to the patient regarding treatment options including about the ”Cost or detriment (invasiveness, pain,
Autonomy: In medicine, autonomy refers to the right of the patient to retain control over his or her body. A health care professional can suggest or advise, but any actions that attempt to persuade or coerce the patient into making a choice are violations of this principle. In the end, the patient must be allowed to make his or her own decisions – whether or not the medical provider believes these choices are in that patient’s best interests – independently and according to his or her personal values and beliefs. 2. Beneficence: This principle states that health care providers must do all they can to benefit the patient in each situation.
Ethics and multidimensionality provide a way for the nurse to advocate for the patient. This is, of course, a gray area at times certain drugs or tests may have initial negative or painful effects, but in the long run, provide relief to the patient. However, while the nursing code of ethics echoes the Hippocratic Oath of "do no
The nurse must be sure that the care provided does not harm or put any patient at risk. Harm can be physical, emotional, financial, individual, and within the community. Avoidance of harm requires that the nurse thoroughly educate the patient in order for the recipient of care to make an informed decision.
It is the duty of a nurse to provide treatment with care and compassion rising above the cultural, racial or gender differences and thus treat every patient equally irrespective of the condition or disease. He or she should help in boosting a patient's willpower and overcoming health problems which will help to lead a normal and independent life. Respect the patient's priority of interests As providing the best treatment is ultimate motto of a person working in this profession, it underlines the point that all decisions which are conducive to a patient's health must be given a top priority. For instance, it might happen that a nurse does not agree with the medical practitioner's perspective and has a conflicting point of view.
Autonomy, as defined by Mary Ellen Grohar-Murray and Joanne C. Langan (2011), is the “capacity of persons to freely make decisions in light of their own understanding, beliefs, and goals” (p.102). Nurses adopt the ethical principle of autonomy by respecting the patient’s wishes, and allow patients to express their freedom to make their own choices revolving around their own health. Although patients are constantly provided with information on their best option of treatments and procedures, ultimately, they decide whether or not to follow through. For example, a cancer patient may be told that his best option is chemotherapy, but he may refuse treatment because he knows the side effects of them. As patient advocates, nurses may try to encourage him to take the treatment, but in the end, they will listen to his wishes and respect his right to refuse treatment.