Nursing Healthcare Ethical Issue
Assessment Task 2
In the healthcare sector, it is crucial for the healthcare professionals to perform their duties in line with the established norms and practices, thereby eliminating chances of doing unlawful or unethical practices that in turn might do harm to the service recipients. Therefore, utmost importance is paid in carrying out the duties assigned to these healthcare practitioners by conforming to the ethical principles (Gelling, 1999). For the sake of guiding them in course of their duties, various laws and codes of conduct have been formulated by the concerned authority. These laws and professional boundaries as mentioned in the legal system vary in accordance to the domicile in which it is being followed (Kerridge, 1998). However, the basis of all these formal encodings is same. Four virtues of medical ethics comprising of the principle of respect for autonomy, principle of justice, principle of nonmaleficence alongside principle of beneficence are diligently followed in resolving situations ethically. Breach of duty is liable to prosecution and appropriate legal actions (Gillon & Lloyd, 1994). In the following sections, we will be discussing an ethical issue that is raised by the events mentioned in the chosen case study. Analysis of the ethical issues will be done in relation to the notions of human dignity, human rights, professional codes of ethics, relevant professional policies/legislations and principles of healthcare ethics. Furthermore, suitable recommendations for professional practice will also be made in due course.
(I.C. RS 8166)