CH 9: Ethical Aspects Flashcards
beliefs that guide life; concept of accepted standards of conduct and moral judgment
ethics
greatest number of people will benefit
utilitarianism
greatest benefit to oneself; no reason to perform an act that benefits others unless one will personally benefit as well
egoism
right and wrong are relative to the situation
relativism
specific truths to guide actions
absolutism
provides guidelines for actions
professional code of ethics
to do good for patients; make sound decisions that serve patient’s best interests
beneficence
prevent harm; not directly perform an act that causes harm
nonmaleficence
to be fair, treat people equally, and give patients the service they need
justice
respect our words and duty to patients
fidelity
truthfulness
veracity
respect patients’ freedoms, preferences, and rights
autonomy
respect the privacy; related to HIPPA
confidentiality
occurs when circumstances interfere with the basic application of ethical principles
ethical dilemmas
Violates public trust of nurses and inconsistent with ethical codes and standards
Nurses have the right to object involvement
assisted suicide
ethical dilemmas in gerontological nursing
-With higher compensation and increased responsibility, there is an increase in accountability
-Upcoming medical technology has ethical issues
-Needs weighed against economic survival
-Conflict of interest
-Greater number of older adults holds society responsible
-assisted suicide
measures to help make ethical decisions
Encourage patients to express their desires via advance directives and wills
Identify significant others who impact and are impacted
Know yourself, your ethics, and your personal value system
Read to gain a wider view of ethical problems
Discuss with other health team members
Form an ethics committee
Consult ethical experts or the ethics committee
Talk with others and seek guidance
Evaluate decision
Become actively involved in developing ethically sound principles
assisting older adults in decision-making
assure competency
document factors that can influence decision making
offer explanations
ensure understanding
encourage questions
provider with education
ensure no coercion
ability to make competent decisions can fluctuate
avoid having personal bias
