Introduction ethics

8/7/2019 Introduction ethics

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IntroductionThe progress that humanity has developed in science, technology and genetic medical treatment

during the last two decades of the century and this century have created a gap between the valuesethical, legal, human and the same evolution of humanity. In a universal dilemma of ethics and

bioethics in humanity, especially in the career of nursing because it carries a set of values in

binding regulations, which may perhaps lead to contradictions.Within the power nurse is not free of this situation, since we are the people who remain in directcontact with the user and their needs and potential. Also, the nurse is part of the team research, of

teaching and administration, making regulated progress of science, his commitment to humanity,to life with the environment, ie everything.

The ethics and bioethics leads to pass to the nurse about the various fields either practical ortheoretical, and that is where da-binding code of ethics also entails practice from the race in

order to make the nurse faces several problems.

Ethics

1.1 ETHICAL. CONCEPT

On the Ethics of Professional training, Guido Gatti said that The high professions themselvescan become a place of true self, only if done with a social concern

Ethics is considered as the science of goodness and badness of human action but if you talk as italready covers profession as the professional setting in a stable manner and honored the service

given to other individuals and for personal profit, driven by their own vocation and the dignitywhich is the individual human.

This includes the sense of the word refers only to the university, but broadly speaking, also

covers offices and permanent jobs and renumbered, although it requires a college degree.Both the choice of vocation should be completely free to be understood as the provision that

makes the subject particularly suitable for a particular occupation and that if he chooses his own

vocation is a guaranteed success in their professional field, in exchange if the Choosing a careerwithout taking into account the qualities and preferences, but, for example, some parents tastesor interests of some cases with some family that leads to a failure to translate the best would be a

change of career.

1.2 PRINCIPLES ETHICS

To talk of ethics is important to have a vocabulary that can be understood, although some wordshave different meanings, provide written about ethics in the context where they can understand

and discuss the ethical issue.

Range:It means the independence of an individual to determine their own destiny in matters of health

and disease. The respect for the autonomy of the client is fundamental to the practice of caremedical and health professionals, are committed to respect the autonomy of the client.

Beneficence:Is making actions positive help to others. It also helps when treatment decisions can be

questioned for his risk.

Nonmaleficence:It is to prevent injury or damage. Tension health ethics is not only do good but also the


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commitment to do no harm and in extreme cases strives to do the least damage possible.

Justice:

It refers to the equity and the task of health professionals to achieve justice in health care.

Faithfulness:

It is the agreement to keep promises, even in cases of disagreement with the decisions of the

client, you must provide the necessary care.

1.3 ETHICAL ASPECTSAll people need others throughout life. Dependency levels vary throughout the life cycle andfunction of living situations. The problems of health often involve higher levels of dependence,

and respond to it is a fundamental part of the professional content of the nurses.One characteristic of sick people is that others see in them greater levels of dependency in the

life of a person healthy. In turn, the dependence can be interpreted as a deficiency in the abilityto make decisions, and empower people who are sick may be restricted, especially in situations

of loss of health and contact with health framework.The autonomy of persons is frequently compromised in the life of the person when facing health

problems, physical or mental disabilities. This is often compounded by adding see the difficultiesof the process of aging. It may seem that decisions must be left in the hands of the family and

professionals.To push the responsibility is to look professional care that any decision should have as objective

to preserve, promote and defend the good of the person treated. The human rights in the contextof health are shared responsibilities of all professionals, require careful consideration of all those

involved in the process of care.Finally be regarded as professional decision-making is highly influenced by the values of

personal nurse and the emotions. Knowing your values, identify the emotions arising from therelationship with the patient and his family, is a prerequisite and essential to be able to

understand the values and emotions of others. The nurse is professional and wing see is a personthat can not forget.

Neither can be neglected the stress and / or anxiety that leads to health and relationshipdecisions. The self-analysis and the analysis in the group help to differentiate the nurse as a

person as a professional nurse, and therefore help to better focus on patient needs and not on theneeds that the nurse assumes that the patient has. The interpretation of the demand for care and

the planning of them must be as patient centered as possible, therefore, identify personalemotions help us be more objective and to listen more readily to the patient and family. Most

people are ethical dilemmas, and create conflict between the ways of doing what is right.To be able to resolve an ethical problem, you must first understand the conflict that is occurring

between different moral positions. Yet all of these different ethical positions derive from theoriesthat can be based on the result or the duty or obligation, and theories relating to care. This is the

framework in which the staff of nursing is faced with clinical dilemmas, such as telling the truthor respect the privacy and confidentiality.

The problem with that position should nurses take on if it is an ethical problem to be solved indifferent ways, resorting to the authority of an official document, taking an individual decision

by consensus with the rest of the nursing staff through one dialogue between the profession andthe public.


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Ethical Theories:The theories used for various purposes, an overview is designing the duties and rights of

individuals within a given space. To determine the structure of a theory ethics is necessary todefine whether certain objectives, duties or rights are basic or subordinates.

While providing a framework and general guidelines applicable to our activities and moral

doubts, can not give rules specific to be sought by going to the principles that leave the basicunderlying theory

Theory of consequence:In ethics, it places the good or evil of a share in the outcome of the same (Fundamentals of

Nursing, 2003)

UtilitarianismIt is a formulation of the theory of consequence. Desarrollado por Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)y Jhon Stuart Mill (1806-1873), Developed by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart

Mill (1806-1873), his proposition is that the good of all those affected by a situation rather thanan individual.

And from the point of view, the action of saving a life or end it is neutral, ie not specifically goodor bad. The will depend on its consequences.

Beneficence / paternalismAccording to this proposition is not just charities do good more than the patient, but it had the

voice of nurses does not match that of the one and when the nurses opinion conflicts with thepatients welfare paternalism becomes , acts and attitudes paternalistic are those which limit the

freedom of the patient for his own good nursing paternalism involves the use of some forms oftaxation for the benefit the patient not considered beneficial the outcome you are trying, or not as

a good important to remedy suffering to achieve this.

Theory of Liability:Any person has the obligation to seek the welfare and reduce suffering in the world scale, these

are some of the duties of active nurses. The theory is located on right and wrong of an action onthe principles that drive the behavior.

Kantianism: A fundamental ethical perspective, called Kantianism.Write Emmanuel Kant (1724-1804):

There are consequences that make an action good or bad if not righteousness that moralitydepends on the actions you are consistent with a principle whatever consistent results by the

concept is fundamental goodwill necessary to assess the overall good of an act, also this theorydoes recognize the man deserves respect for all this is contrary to what is said in theory result,

the obligation to treat the rest as findings in themselves and not as means to an end places theman in the center of moral decision and finally also has a moral obligation to act based on therespect for rights and acceptance of responsibility therefore to meet this mandate is clear and

clearly define the principles and responsibilities and follow the moral imperative to act on them.

The fundamental ethical principle comes from the perspective of Kantian ethics: respect forautonomy. The nurse takes this respect and makes the patient advocacy through work.

Care theory:

With a theory based on universal principles and abstract (as defined by Kant and Mill) or nurses


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or patients are moral agents are only specific individuals and individuals, each one with its ownhistory, opinion and desires.

This view of morality contradicts everything that the nurse knows about himself and about hispatients as people, within and outside assistance rather than healthy.

This framework stresses the importance of morality in practical situations those establishing

relationships, care, communication, the desire not to harm others and responsiveness are somevery fundamental aspects of ethics.About care, Nel Noddings (1984) states that The theory describes a female carefully

distinguishes between caring and worry. Caregiving nurses away from patient and isimpersonal and depersonalization . Worrying about is based on emotion, feelings and

attitudes.But it ignores the ethical theories assume that only traditional but some moral life richer.

Fundamental principles

ART.1 .- The code of ethics is constituted by a systematized set of principles, guidelines andstandards that guide the financial duties of professional nurses.

1. It is based on moral principles that must be honestly applied by the professionals of nursing

practice to ensure an honorable conduct, with justice, solidarity, competence and legality.

2. The holistic concept of health-disease process, they must manage, implement and nursing

professionals for the protection of health and life of the population.

3. Nursing is a profession of service so highly human who has chosen this profession mustassume a behavior in accordance with the ideals of: solidarity, respect for human life and to be

considered in their biodiversity as part and interrelationship with peers and nature

4. The education permanent, having a system of human values and the proper handling ofcommunication allows the nurse or reflect ethical behavior in their relationship with people in

their care, with colleagues, team members health and society in general, see what theirrespectability and recognition assures labor and social.

5. The development scale of the human person demands respect and practice of these humanvalues: justice, freedom, etc.., By both the nurse and the nurse both their personal and

professional life should be respected and everyday practices.

6. Health is a right, therefore the nurse and the nurse must respect and work for society and thestate to put it into effect.

The Professional Practice

ART.2. In practice, the nurse or nurse should be affiliated to their respective school.

ART.3. The nurse and the nurse to join the school wing acquire Federation and the responsibilityto comply with the laws and ethics governing the practice agreement establishes the legal


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framework of practice of nurses and nursing, compliance is a serious lack against professionalethics.

ART.4. The faults and ethics violations in accordance with this code relate to ethical behavior

and will be sanctioned by the respective court of honor. Misconduct is unethical not to report

violations against this code, committed by a nurse.It is the duty of any nurse or nurse know and abide by the laws on health lifetimes.

ART.5. The nurse and nurse must meet civic duties and participate together with those of morecitizens in the promotion and protection of health and life in the individual, family and

community

ART.6. The nurses are responsible for their performance and to maintain existing professional

competence through training and education, consider working with humans and with the rapidchanges occurring in science, technology and culture.

ART.7. The nurse and nurses must accept or recognize the individual responsibility that theybear in making decisions in their work.

ART.8. The nurse and nurse must respect the attitudes, knowledge, and practices of theindividual, family and community where these do not harm or be a risk to health.

ART.9. In consideration of his prestige and that of the profession, nurses must observe cautionwhen used for professional reasons the media collective.

ART.10. The nurses refuse to have their names or people being used for advertising purposes

that violate the dignity and human rights.

ART.11. every nurse and nurse is free to choose the place where they can practice theirprofession unless they have contracts that are so determined and accepted.

ART.12. The nurse and nurse must provide the individual family and community humanizedcare, timely, continuous and assured.

ART.13. The nurse and nurse should respect the scale of values, ideology and religion of the

individual, family and community.

ART.14. The nurse and nurse must respect and not do that discriminate by nationality, race,

color, religion, etc..

ART.15. The nurse and nurse professional with critical judgment rate the competence ofpersonnel who are required to assign responsibilities.

ART.16. The nurses decide the most appropriate for treating a patient when his life is at risk and

emergency situations.


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ART.17. The nurses take into consideration the participation of individuals, families andcommunities in meeting their needs, applying the principles of treatment and intervention advice

and consent.

ART.18. The nurse and nurse, even in cases of urgent necessity, not abandon the patient without

having taken measures to ensure continuity of care.

ART.19.Comenten grave lack of nurses that promote or engage in acts that threaten the quality

of care and health, the person at any stage of life.

ART.20. The nurse and nurse may participate in research clinics that do not conflict with ethics

and morals and also must obtain the voluntary consent of the person or persons authorizedexecuted, after a detailed explanation of the nature and risk of the same.

ART.21. The nurses are required to report to local, national or international practice of torture,

physical or mental patients refugees, political or common prisoners, and those who are victims of

violence within the family

ART.22. The nurse and nurse should respect the rights of all patients, particularly the terminally

ill and their families

ART.23. The nurse and nurse must be objective and truthful about their reports, statements or

testimony.

ART.24. The nurse and nurse for the discharge of their functions must wear the uniform inaccordance with existing institutional rules, and respect to keep their badges: caps and lamps as

part of their identity professional.

ART.25. The nurses participate in collective efforts or particular requirements to preserve thehuman environment from harmful environmental factors and other risks society.

ART.26. The nurses are required to provide services in cases of natural disasters, socialupheaval, invasions , presenting serious risks for public health.

Exercise of teaching and research

ART.27. The nurse and nursing students must provide standards of professional and personal

morality, through word and example of their daily lives.

ART.28.The nurses must have and demonstrate a high scientific training, technical and

humanistic training to ensure quality of other professionals.

ART.29. The nurse and nurse educators must have the strength to reject impositions flattery andany other action that might induce them to commit irregularities unethical.


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ART.30. The nurse and nurse involved in the formation of non-professional level of nursingmust ensure that educational content corresponding to that level.

ART.31. The nurse and nurse to expropriate foreign scientific work, commit a serious lack of

ethics.

ART.32. The nurse and nurse should communicate and disseminate the product of their researchor production science between nursing professionals and encourage the publication of their work.

ART.33. The nurse and nurse to be made related to the profession published using a pseudonym,they must communicate their identity to the College Federation.

Relations

Art.35. As a member of a multidisciplinary team of health, the nurse and the nurse must have a

harmonious relationship with other health team members, based on mutual respect and

cooperation to promote improved health of the population, which is their common goal.

Art.36. The nurse or health team requires close collaboration, in which the nurse should carry outits functions autonomously, ensuring confidence in the treatment that takes the health team. In

cases where risk is in the patient or user, the nurse and the nurse act immediately.

Art.37. The relationships between nurses and nurses should be based on harmony andcooperation, particular emphasis should be given to the orientation of new promotions and

training of future professionals.

Art.38. The nurses in teaching and service should maintain close cooperation, considering the

mutual stress leads to a better quality health care to the population and the advancement of theprofession.

Art.39. The relationships between colleagues will be mutual respect, identity, loyalty and

solidarity.

Art.40. Have seriously breached professional ethics:

A) The nurse and the nurse they cause that libel, slander or infamous to a colleague in aprofessional or personal life.

B) The nurse and the nurse who does not respect lines of authority and try to move a colleaguethrough illegal means or unfair.

C) The nurse and the nurse who distort or refuses to provide information relating to the care of

patients or families in their care and alter your moral living.

Art.41. The nurse and the nurse who has trained to contribute to the professional development ofcolleagues.


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Art.42. The nurse and the nursing staff to assess his position to promote their development andprogress, acting with justice or equity.

1.4 ETHICS AND RESEARCH

This relates to the research clinic with humans, the nurse not only cares for the patient, but

conducts a clinical trial patients plea for experimentation to practice the ethical principle ofrespect for individual autonomy making it different from utilitarianism and paternalism.The patients participation must be voluntary and not forced, when the patient has not left your

prior consent, practitioners should allow an immediate family member involved and not havingclose relative or friend will be the nurse who speak for patients merit provided care and patient

trust.

1.5 ETHICS AND ABORTIONIs the interruption of pregnancy for any reason before the fetus is sufficiently developed to

survive.From the ethical point of view there are two types of abortion: the led, which is produced by

chemical or mechanical means, and spontaneous, that have no ethical problems by their nature,in turn, the causes can be: therapeutic , is being done in order to restore health or save the

mothers life threatened by the process of gestation, and euthanasia, is what is done with thepurpose of eliminating fetuses that have health problems, sparing suffering.

Bioethics

2.1 BIOETHICS CONCEPTOn Bioethics, Potter (1971) says that Bioethics thus emerges as an attempt to build a bridgebetween experimental science and humanities

Bioethics is the morality of life are standards that are based on ethical principles that normalizethe individual and social behavior of the person.

This follows from the definition of bioethics at the Encyclopaedia Of. Bioethics: According toReich, (1978) says that the systematic study of human behavior in the field of sciences of life

and health, considered in the light values and moral principles. Bioethics is the ethics that want to deliver the guiding principles of human behavior in the

biomedical field.This preparation should be demanding and continuous and must meet both theoretical aspects

(ethics, anthropology, history of technological development, philosophy of science) and practical(thinking critically, acquire the habit of honesty and intellectual capacity for communication and

dialogue including the learning of a language and familiarity with computerized virtualcommunication).

But bioethics is not limited to medical field, but includes all the moral problems having to dowith life in general, thus extending its scope to issues related to the environment.

Other literatures define bioethics as the systematic study of human behavior in the field of lifesciences and healthcare, as wing behavior is examined in light of the values and moral

principles. It now includes not only the traditional aspects of medical ethics, but includeenvironmental ethics, with discussions on the rights of future generations, sustainable

development, etc..Bioethics is now part of ethics that studies the correctness and incorrectness of the actions that

are carried out in the field of nursing.


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Artificial fertilization aimed at a human conception through the union of egg and sperm in vitroand after embryo transfer to the uterus.

The ethical objections against artificial insemination and fertilization are of two kinds: one isrelated to the autonomy of human beings, the other type is referred to sociological and biological

and social relations between spouses and children.

Introduction

Nurses live and work in a world that has become and will remain

unequivocally pluralistic in nature and outlook. To put this another way, nurses

now live and work in a world in which there is no one single reality, but manycoexisting realities (multiple realities) among which they must choose (Anderson

1990).

The development of a pluralistic world view has had a significant impact on

our moral ways of seeing, believing and acting. The more pluralistic our world

has become, the more value systems there have been available to us and the morecomplex our ideas about what constitutes the moral life and how best to achieveit (Anderson 1990; Engelhardt 1996). Little wonder then, that in the 1990s, the

world in which we live, and the contexts in which we work, have all becomeincreasingly characterised by moral indiscernability, ambiguity, uncertainty,

controversy and perplexity (Bauman 1993; Wildes 1993, 1994; Wear et al. 1994;Singer and Kuhse 1994; McCullough 1995; Kane 1994). For some, these

difficulties have been compounded by what they refer to as the 'postmodernpredicament' wherein, it is assumed, 'we no longer share any common grounds to

which we might appeal for the adjudication of our differences' (Wear et al. 1994,p. 147; see also Engelhardt 1996). To add to this predicament, we continue to

face moral problems in our day-to-day personal and professional lives, wecontinue to worry about whether the moral choices we make are 'correct', and

continue to suffer the moral perplexity and distress that inevitably follows from'not getting it right' or from being unable, for various reasons, to translate our

moral reflections and judgments into action. Against this backdrop, at least twoimportant questions can be raised: what are the implications of this scenario for

the nursing profession? and how can nurses be prepared best to deal with them?In this and the following chapters of this book, attention will be given to

addressing these questions.

What Is Bioethics?

Bioethics is the application of ethics to the field of medicine. Ethicists ask two questions: "What

is the right or good thing to do?" and "What are our obligations to one another?"

Bioethicists ask these questions in the context of modern medicine and draw on a plurality oftraditions, both secular and religious, to help society understand and keep pace with how

advances in science and medical technology can change the way we experience the meaning ofhealth and illness and, ultimately, the way we live.


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Bioethics is multidisciplinary. It blends law, philosophy, insights from the humanities andmedicine to bear on the the complex interaction of human life, science, and

technology. Although its questions are as old as humankind, the origins of bioethics as a field aremore recent and difficult to capture in a single view.

When the term bioethics was first coined in 1971 (some say by University of Wisconsinprofessor Van Rensselaer Potter; others, by fellows of the Kennedy Institute in Washington,D.C. ), it may have signified biology combined with diverse humanistic knowledge forging a

science that would set a system of medical and environmental priorities for acceptable survival.However, ensuing elaborations stressed the vital interrelationship among humanistic studies,

science, and technology.

The field of bioethics now encompasses a full range of concerns, from difficult private decisionsmade in clinical settings, to controversies surrounding stem cell research, to implications of

reproductive technologies, to broader concerns such as international human subject research, topublic policy in healthcare, and to the allocation of scarce resources. This array of interest is

neatly summarized under the rubric of the Centers four domains: Aging and End of Life,Clinical and Organizational Ethics, Life Sciences, and Health Disparities.

What Does It Accomplish?

In applying the foundational disciplines of philosophy and theology, and

incorporating perspectives from various disciplines including sociology, medicine, nursing,anthropology, and law, bioethics interdisciplinary dialogue contributes to the fields unique

merit.

By addressing significant questions, such as, the ends and purposes of the life

sciences, healthcare, the meanings and implications of distributive justice, and issues in globalhealthcare, it also explores deeper issues such as the meaning of life and death, pain andsuffering, and rights and responsibilities.

As the field continues to evolve, bioethics has also become a prominent force in legislation and

public policy.

The nursing profession has always been defined by the nurses' ability to give optimal nursing

care to all people from all walks of life and this care has always been coupled with responsibility and

accountability. Nurses, empower an individual, a family and the whole community to maintain health and

to restore or improve the health status.With the responsibilities laid on the shoulders of the nurses,

Florence Nightingale once said, "Let whoever is in charge keep this simple question in her

head - not, how can I always do this right thing myself, but how can I provide for the


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right thing to be always done?" This is a question of how can a nurse provide care to a

client considering the many ethical and legal issues attributed to the profession.

Like the founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale, nurses nowadays are

compounded with the same question: What can I do for my patient? This question may

seem trivial and easy but when one has to consider the many factors that are involved

in the context of caring, one might realize that this is a tough question after all. Thus, the

Code of Nursing Ethics serves its purpose by defining the scope of nursing practice

including the merits, risks and other relevant ethical issues involving the nursing

profession.

Furthermore, one of the most common issues in the health care setting is the

importance of the doctrine of informed consent. Maxwell J. Mehlman, an expert in

health law and bioethics, put it simply as the presence of a physician giving patient an

explanation of his health condition, different alternatives and other health choices.

Robertson (1981) further stressed that it is a legal doctrine that recognizes the patient's

right to decide for himself and the doctor's obligation to provide him/ her necessary

information so that the patient can choose whether to submit himself to the proposed

treatment.


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Meanwhile, According to Faden and Beauchamp (1986), there are basically 5

components of an informed consent: disclosure, comprehension, voluntariness,

competence and consent itself form the analytical components of the concept of

informed consent. The first component concerns disclosure. There are patients who are

signing consent forms without having any knowledge of what it is they are consenting

to. After an explanation is given by the doctor, it is the duty of the nurse to assess the

patient's knowledge and if further teachings are required. Another concern is about the

patient's comprehension. There are nurses who directly assume incorrectly that

complete explanations are already given thus fail to re assess the patient before

obtaining the patient's consent. Obtaining of consent from people who cannot

understand or speak the English language without the presence of a qualified

interpreter is the third concern. It is important that the patient fully understands the

treatment he will go through and this would be impossible if the patient has no

comprehension of the language thus an interpreter is needed.

It is also an important component that the patient will sign the consent voluntarily

and no force or threat is used to make the client sign or allow the procedure.

Meanwhile, there are cases when the patient has knowledge of the procedure of the

treatment however they do not have any idea of the associated risks involved and this is

the fourth concern. As a nurse, assessment is very necessary and patients should be

informed not just with the procedure itself but also the risks that could possibly occur

and lastly, the patient should be competent enough and has knowledge of the consent

itself and its implications. This means that the patient is able to understand the

procedure including the associated risks and effects.


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Moreover, the concerns mentioned fall under the four important principles

covered by the doctrine. These are autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and

justice. The principle of autonomy connotes that patients have the right to choose for

themselves so they can choose what treatment to subject themselves into or they have

the right to refuse whatever is not favorable for them. On the other hand, non-

maleficence lives by "above all, do no harm" and patients should be protected from

anything that will cause harm such as assault and battery, false imprisonment,

exploitation and others including those that resulted from inadequacy of information that

resulted to harm while beneficence lives by "above all, do good" which emphasizes that

maximum care should be given to patients and lastly is justice wherein patients should

be treated fairly and without bias.

On the other hand, the presented scenario dwells on the moral stand of the

nurse on suicide. As already mentioned, the patient has the right to autonomy thus he

only has the right to choose what's best for him but as a nurse, we are faced with the

dilemma of upholding the patient's freedom to protect him or allowing him to be free

and commit suicide. According to Beauchamp (1980), "if people are autonomous, then

they have the right to be left alone and to do with their lives as they wish, so long as

they are sufficiently free of responsibilities to others. From this perspective, the

intervention in the life of a suicide is simply an unjust deprivation of liberty". Glover


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(1977) added that it is a person's free choice if suicide will be committed and other

people's say would not matter at all.

Since the patient is not mentally ill, the patient has the right to decide and then

best thing that the nurse can do is to provide necessary health teachings to the client

conveying the feelings of empathy and using therapeutic communication. Any nurse or

health care professional for that matter is drawn to feel obliged to help a suicidal patient

to feel better by giving him/ her words of encouragement and encouraging patient to

voice out fears or any concern. By doing this, the nurse might believe that the patient

may change his or her mind. On the other hand, nurses also counsel patient to bring

back feelings of hope, worthiness and sense of belongingness and this will help patient

gain a positive outlook in life. Lastly, is to help individuals who committed attempted

suicide to feel good again and treat the injuries that they have- it may be physical or

emotional.

The second scenario presents a case of a terminally ill client. What the nurse did

is ethical since she practiced the principle of beneficence. It is the duty of the nurse to

make the terminally ill client feel comfortable as much as possible and if the sips of

water will make him feel better then the nurse will provide it even if she has to go

against the doctor's order. However, the nurse also has to take into consideration the

possible consequences and in this case the 'sips of water' is not that detrimental to the


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patient. Beauchamp and Childress (1994) states that beneficence literally means 'act

for the benefit of others'.

Compassion, care, altruism, love, friendship, empathy, sympathy, kindness,

mercy, and charity are examples of acts of beneficence however, doing such acts will

not guarantee that no consequence will occur thus certain limits should be employed

and should be dealt with accordingly or according to other moral implications. Thus, it is

important that when the nurse acts beneficently towards a patient, he or she should put

this on her mind that she is not obliged to act that way and in doing such action, certain

responsibilities should be carried especially if the act committed has moral interests and

in one way or another comprised or harmed the patient's safety seriously.

The last situation entails that although knows the patient's condition and

prognosis, he or she has no right to disclose the information to the patient. What she

must do is to continuously provide the patient with high quality care and to make the

patient comfortable as much as possible. Since the Doctor has the right to inform the

patient, it is best that the nurse will let the patient understand the situation and inform

him that the Doctor will come right in to tell him with the progress of his condition and

what would be expected. Moreover, the nurse should make the patient feel that he is

not alone and to do this it is helpful if the patient and his/ her support system are

involved in his care.


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Meanwhile, the legal dimension of nursing takes into consideration the legalities

of the nursing profession. Such considerations include the laws that govern the

profession including the crimes, torts and others that might occur while practicing

nursing care. An example of this is when a patient died while under the direct care of

the nurse. Before the nurse is questioned in the court, many things will be accounted for

first like if the act was an act of negligence on the part of the nurse or the health team in

general or an act of malpractice. Since laws are part in the legal dimension of nursing, it

is important that the nurses know, understand and follow conscientiously the legal

implications of the practice including the state's nurse practice act, board of nursing as

well as the standards of nursing care.

On the other hand, the ethical dimension of nursing is more or less related to its

legal dimension. The ethical dimension of nursing believes that each individual

deserves an optimal nursing care and this could be achieved through the nurses

understanding of life in general. As nurses continue to face different ethical dilemmas, it

is empirical that the nurses know their stand in these issues to be able to deal with

these ethical issues appropriately. An example of an ethical situation is the patient who

wanted to abort his child. In this situation the nurse is faced with a dilemma whether to

participate in the process or not to participate and stick to his or her values even if this is

the patient's choice.


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Introduction ethics

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