Ethics: Legal And Ethical Issues In Nursing

570 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Nursing ethics and law

Nursing is about caring for individuals, ensuring privacy and safety along that process. Ethics is an indispensable component of nursing, and every nurse is accountable to maintain certain ethical standards. Disclosure of certain diseases such as HIV (Human Immuno- Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) positive results often bring out shame and guilt, but it is essential for the patients to reveal this to their sex partners to protect them from the disease.
Legal and Ethical Position
Lena, being a health professional cannot share the HIV result of her sister’s boyfriend, wilfully to her sister as it is a legal offense per Cal. Health & Safety Code § 120980 (AIDS: HIV Reporting Act, 2006). As per revised ANA Code of Ethics, provision three, Lena also has the commitment to protect the patient’s rights to privacy even if that is her sister’s boyfriend (Olson & Stokes, 2016). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) restricts Lena from disclosing the boyfriend’s HIV information to her sister as this falls under patient’s protected health information and should not discuss without his consent (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996). …show more content…

Patients need counseling, education, and support in deciding whom and how to disclose the HIV status. Educating the patients on the significance of early disclosure to their sexual partners to avoid secondary prevention is needed. Counseling on methods of disclosure such as face to face, indirect or using the third party will give them strategies to take the first step towards the prevention and their treatment (Catona, Greene, & Magsamen-Conrad,

Show More
Related

  • Ethics in Nursing

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    Deontology is an ethical theory concerned with duties and rights. The founder of deontological ethics was a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant. Kant’s deontological perspective implies people are sensitive to moral duties that require or prohibit certain behaviors, irrespective of the consequences (Tanner, Medin, & Iliev, 2008). The main focus of deontology is duty: deontology is derived from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. A duty is morally mandated action, for instance, the duty never to lie and always to keep your word. Based on Kant, even when individuals do not want to act on duty they are ethically obligated to do so (Rich, 2008).

    Read More

  • Ethics and Its Complications in the Nursing Field

    2012 Words  | 5 Pages

    Through centuries nurses were given the title “Caregivers”. Unlike some doctors, nurses actually care for their patients, not necessarily saying doctors do not; they both just have a different way of caring. Yes, doctors cure illnesses, but nurses are just as important because they help with the healing process. Most nurses can have the same exact education or knowledge as a medical physician but the only thing individuals see is a name tag with either the acronym CNA, LPN, R.N. and PH.D. Of course PH.D will get all the credit, seeing as how nurses do not exactly diagnose patients. A nurse could just become a doctor but there are different aspects of each title. Nurses take instructions from a higher administrator, which is sometimes a doctor. What needs to be known is doctors are not the only ones that stress and have rules to abide by. Nurses have ethical codes, daily ethical dilemmas, morals, and ridiculous distress, but some of these examples differ with country, state, and hospital. If nurses are capable, then they should be given the opportunity to make medical decisions or diagnosis in critical situations.

    Read More

  • Essay On Ethical Issues In Nursing

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    Planning included reaching out to other health organizations, objectives, and goals of health fair were established. The implementation includes getting volunteers, set up for the health fair. The evaluation of the process occurred throughout the implementation and changes were made as needed. The evaluation will be completed by gathering information from health booth to determine the number of participants. Review vendor and participant evaluations about the health fair including how they heard about the health fair, ratings of booths and suggestions for improvements. Record everything to determine changes. Reflection on past experiences and what worked and did not work.

    Read More

  • Professional, Ethical and Legal issues in nursing

    2256 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to American Nurses Association (ANA), (2010) “the nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the heath, safety and right of the patient” (p. 6). Nursing responsibilities should be acted at the highest standard and must be based on legal and ethical obligations.

    Read More

  • Code Of Ethics In Nursing: The Ethics Of Nursing

    1502 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before Nightingale, nurses were lower class citizens that were alcoholics or prostitutes with no to a little education. Florence Nightingale realized that nurses ought to have some education in caring for others and be of a higher class. In 1860, she opened the first nursing school in London that did not accept prostitutes and alcoholics. To signify Nightingale’s view of nursing, Lystra Gretter composed a Hippocratic Oath for nurses called the Nightingale pledge.

    Read More

  • Nursing Ethics Case Study

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    Davis J. Anne Diane Marsha and Aroskar A. Mila (2010). Ethical Dilemmas and Nursing Practice. Pearson

    Read More

  • The Code Of Ethics And Moral Issues In Nursing

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since you examined the number of moral issues you will face in this profession, look through the code of ethics that you chose for this assignment and explain

    Read More

  • American Nurses Code Of Ethics Essay

    1375 Words  | 3 Pages

    Which is very important for nurses or any medical professional to do in the healthcare profession. Nurses are receiving these patients in their most vulnerable state, nurses are exposed and trusted with the patients’ information to further assist them on providing optimum treatment. Keeping patient’s information private goes back to not just doing what’s morally right but also it also builds that nurse – patient relationship as well. We also have provision three that specifically taps on this issue as well, as it states: “The nurse seeks to protect the health, safety, and rights of patient.” (Nurses Code of Ethics,

    Read More

  • Nursing Ethics: The Role Of Ethics In Nursing

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    The word ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos, which means character (1). Being moral always fills a nurse with morals respects, guidelines of good judgment and expert lead. There are three essential obligations for nurses, among many other which are the duty of autonomy, confidentiality, and obligation of care to all patients (2). There are professional duties with becoming distinctly legitimate obligations if any law and policies are ruptured in between professional practice. In 2001, a review found that there was an apparent requirement for more guidance on moral predicaments inside the medical professionals, subsequent to expanding legal cases and open request (3). Medical attendants ought to withstand to regulatory law and statutory law while managing the nursing practice.

    Read More

  • Ethics and Law in Dental Hygiene: Case Studies 16 and 17

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    This case presents a very delicate situation that presents many legal and ethical questions. Do you tell your brother his partner has HIV? I would tell my brother, but the how and when, may vary based on circumstance. From a professional ethical standpoint, it would be unethical to disclose the patient’s HIV status without consent. It would violate the patient’s right to confidentiality, as it is the patient’s choice whom information may be shared with (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 50). It could also be argued that it is a violation of the principle of nonmaleficence. By providing the patient’s HIV status to people unbound by HIPAA, you are putting the patient at risk of discrimination. This could cause mental anguish or psychological issues, therefore, in essence, inflicting harm on the patient. The most valued application of nonmaleficence is, “One ought to not inflict harm” (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 42). This would outweigh the ethical argument that you are also preventing harm to your brother, another less important application of nonmaleficence (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 42). There is one professional ethical principle that I would argue was being applied. This being the principle of paternalism, stating that healthcare providers should do what they deem best for the patient according to their ability and judgment (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 47). If the patient had a sexual encounter with the brother, and did not inform him of her HIV status, she may be arrested for reckless endangerment according to Pennsylvania law. A case where an HIV-positive person did not disclose their status to their sexual partner was brought before the Pennsylvania Superior Court. According to Pennsylvania law, “Disclosure of HIV status is a defense ag...

    Read More

  • Get Vaccinated More Babies Get Sick

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although confidentiality is well established for this illness, a family may choose to be open about their child who has HIV and may discuss his or her infection with friends.

    Read More

  • Essay On Code Of Ethics In Nursing

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a persons or a group’s behavior, ethical principles apply to both personal and professional relationships (Webster, 2015). The field of nursing is a profession that has been highly regarded and respected in society. Most nurses enter the profession in order to utilize their clinical skills to help others in their time of need. Those in failing health rely on nurses to care for them in their most vulnerable states, and expect a level of compassion and humanity while receiving care. Nurses have an ethical responsibility to their patients, clients, and their community. Compassion, empathy, and integrity are staple characteristics that nurses possess that allow them to successfully perform their

    Read More

  • Nursing Code of Ethics

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    The nursing code of ethics has a very standard definition. It is the base on how nurses should guide themselves in conduct by making the right decision regarding ethical issues. According to the National Student Nurses Association “students of nursing have a responsibility to society in learning the academic theory and clinical skills needed to provide nursing care” (2003). In the clinical setting nurses have a lot of responsibilities while caring for an ill patient, they have the obligation to practice their profession with compassion, love, and respect the uniqueness of each patient, as nurses we are not supposed to deny care to a patient because of their economic status, their skin color, race, or the nature of health problems, we are here to help the people in need in particular those of susceptible populations. The NSNA states that the code of conduct is based on an understanding that to practice nursing as a student is an agreement that trust and honesty is depended on us by society. The announcement of the code provided direction for the nursing student in the personal development of an ethical foundation and not limited to the academic or clinical environment but can assist in the holistic development of a person. (National Student Nurses Association, 2003)

    Read More

  • Law and Ethics in Nursing

    3244 Words  | 7 Pages

    In every nurse's career, he or she will face with legal and ethical dilemmas. One of the professional competencies for nursing states that nurses should "integrate knowledge of ethical and legal aspects of health care and professional values into nursing practice". It is important to know what types of dilemmas nurses may face

    Read More

  • Essay On Ethical And Ethical Issues In Nursing

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethics asses the values, morals, and principles of nurses. Legal codes or laws are rules established by our government. It’s important that nurses have a clear and comprehensive understanding of ethical and legal codes within their career. The understanding of these codes is essential for nurses to safely practice and to protect their patients. Nurses must abide by these principles or face the consequences of legal action. These principles include autonomy, utilitarianism, confidentiality, and many others. Autonomy is the agreement to respect ones right to determine a course of action, while utilitarianism is what is best for most people as defined in American Nurses Association. In order to give you a

    Read More

More about Ethics: Legal And Ethical Issues In Nursing

Open Document