Question

Congratulations you are now a Registered Nurse.

Today you are getting handover from Jack.

Jack has been looking after 16-year-old James. James is a newly diagnosed diabetic.

During handover Jack tells you he forgot to give James insulin at 9 am, but he signed for it

anyway because he planned on asking you to provide James with a double dose before tea

Jack said he told James’ Mum, he gave the insulin when she asked as she’s really anxious

and he didn’t want to cause her any stress.

• Critically discuss ethical principles relevant to the case study.
• Identify any conflicts between different ethical principles and/or conflicts between ethical principles and legal requirements
• Identify a course of action and provide a rationale for their decision by reference to the National Decision Making Framework.

Answer 1

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES RELEVENT TO THE CASE STUDY

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OR VALUES ARE STATEMENTS OF HUMAN OBLIGATIONS OR DUTIES THAT ARE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AND ARE THE EXPRESSION OF NORMATIVE ETHICAL SYSTEMS.A PRINCIPLE IS A BASIC FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF ,WHICH GUIEDS ACTIONS.THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF SITUATIONS THAT WILL NEVER LEND THEMSELVES TO AN EASY FORMULA,AND THE PRINCIPLES CAN ONLY BE USED TO TRIGGER OUR CONSCIENCE OR GUIDE OUR DECISIONS.THESE PRINCIPLES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED INTO THREE CATEGORIES FOR EASE OF USE :PERSONAL,PROFESSIONAL AND GLOBAL ETHICS.

PRICIPLES OF PERSONAL ETHICS

PERSONAL ETHICS ARE ALSO CALLED  MORALITY,SINCE THEY REFLECT GENERAL EXPECTATIONS OF ANY PERSONS IN ANY SOCIETY,ACTING IN ANY CAPACITY. THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES WE TRY TO INSTALL IN OUR CHILDREN,AND EXPECT OF ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT NEEDING TO ARTICULATE THE EXPECTATION OR FORMALIZE IT IN ANY WAY.

PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL ETHICS INCLUDE:

1. CONCERN FOR THE
WELL BEING OF OTHERS

2. RESPECT FOR THE AUTONOMY OF OTHERS

3. WILLING COMPLIANCE WITH LAW

4. BASIC JUSTICE; BEING FAIR

5.PREVENTING HARM

6. BENEVOLENCE; DOING WELL

7. REFUSING TO TAKE UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

CONFLICT BETWEEN DIFFERENT ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

ETHICAL DILEMMAS

WHAT IT IS?

A DILEMMA IS DEFINED AS A SITUATION REQUIRING A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO EQUALLY DESIRABLE OR UNDESIRABLE ALTERNATIVES.NURSES IN ALL CLINICAL AREAS FACE THE IMPORTANT AND COMMON ETHICAL DILEMMAS, SUCH AS: NEED TO MAKE TREATMENT AND CARE DECISIONS FOR TERMINALLY AND TREATMENT ORDERS AND MEASURES SUCH AS DON'T RESUSCITATE ORDER, WITHHOLDING NUTRITION AND FLUIDS STARTING ; RESPONSE TO PATIENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE ETC.

EMERGING ISSUES

GENETICS /GENOMICS IS AN EMERGING ISSUE IN ETHICS AND NURSE IS GOING TO FACE VARIOUS ETHICAL DILEMMAS FOR WHICH THE DECISIONS ARE TO BE MADE. A VERY IMPORTANT ETHICAL, AND HUMAN RIGHT ISSUES ADDRESSED BY THE ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL ISSUES AND PROGRAM INCLUDE FAIRNESS IN THE USE OF GENETIC INFORMATION AND PRIVACY AND CONFIDENCIALITY, STIGMATIZATION AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS AMONG OTHERS

IDENTIFY A COURSE OF ACTION AND PROVIDE A RATIONALE FOR THEIR DECISION BY REFERENCE TO THE NATIONAL DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK

INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL, CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT {2006}

CODE OF ETHICS:

1. THE NURSE RESPECT THE UNIQUENESS OF INDIVIDUAL IN PROVISION OF CARE

a, Provides care for individuals without consideration of caste creed , religion , culture, gender, or any other grounds

b, Develops and promotes trustful relationship with individuals

c, Individualizes the care considering the beliefs, value and cultural sensitivities

2. THE NURSE RESPECTS THE RIGHT OF INDIVALS AS PARTNER IN CARE AND HELP IN MAKING INFORMED CHOICES

a, protects public from misinformation and misinterpretations

b, Respects the decisions made by individuals regarding their care

3. THE NURSE RESPECTS INDIVIDUALS RIGHT TO PRIVACY, MAINTAINS CONFIDENTIALITY, AND SHARES INFORMATION JUDICIOUSLY:

a, Respect the individual rights to privacy of their personal information

b, maintains confidentiality of privileged information except in life threatening situvations and uses discretion in sharing information

4. NURSE MAINTAINS COMPETENCE IN ORDER TO RENDER QUALITY NURSING CARE

a, Only registered nurse must provide nursing  care

b, Nurses strives to maintain quality nursing care and upholds the standard of care

5. THE NURSE IF OBLIGED A PRACTICE WITH IN THE FRAMEWORK OF ETHICAL,PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL BOUNDARIES

a, Familiarize with relevant laws and practices in accordance with the law of the state

b, Adheres to code of ethics and code of professional conduct for nurses in india developed by indian nursing council.

6. THE NURSE IS OBLIGED TO WORK HARMONIOUSLY WITH MEMBERS OF HEALTH TEAM

a, Appreciates the team efforts in rendering care.

b, cooperates with menbers of the health team to meet the needs of people.

7. THE NURSE COMMITS TO RECIPROCATE THE TRUST INVESTED IN NURING PROFESSION BY SOCIETY

a, demonstrates personal etiquettes in all dealings.

b, demonstrates professional attributes in all dealings.

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