Week 5; Legal and Ethical Considerations

Question 1

Morals

Answer 1

Private, personal, or group standards of
right and wrong. Moral behavior, in accordance with
custom, reflects personal moral beliefs.

Question 2

Ethics

Answer 2

Systematic study of right and wrong
conduct. Formal process for making consistent
moral decisions.

Question 3

Ethical Considerations for Nurses

Answer 3

Consumer awareness: informed consent
Technological advances: we CAN, but should
we?
Multicultural population: differing ethics
Cost containment: unequal access

Question 4

Organizational Ethics –

Answer 4

refers to practices of health care organization

Question 5

Professional ethics –

Answer 5

applied nursing ethics used in practice by individual nurses

Question 6

Moral agency or ethical agency

Answer 6

for nurses is the ability to base their practice on professional standards of ethical conduct and to participate in ethical decision making

Question 7

Nurses as Ethical Agents

Answer 7

Know the difference between right and
wrong, understand abstract ethical principles, apply ethical principles in decision making, weigh alternatives; plan to achieve goals, decide and choose freely, act according to choice

Question 8

Whistleblower

Answer 8

A person who reveals information about the
practices of others that he or she reasonably
believes is: corruption, fraud, abuse, illegal; or harmful to the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. Often seen in billing, research

Question 9

When whistleblowing:

Answer 9

Talk with an attorney or other legal
representation.
Have concrete and credible evidence of the
violation or wrongdoing.
Institute a survival plan, if your job is put in
jeopardy or you are fired.
Retaliation not permitted
Note the nature and consequences of the problem
—its type, severity, and potential impact.
Know your reporting options and support systems

Question 10

Values

Answer 10

Belief about the worth of something. Highly prized ideals, customs, conduct, goals. Freely chosen and learned through observation and experience. Vary from person to person and can change.

Question 11

Factors in Moral Decision Making

Answer 11

Attitude and beliefs

Question 12

Empathy

Answer 12

Empathy can be a value or a standard that
you believe in, that drives you. It is highly individualized. It is a PROFESSIONAL VALUE IN NURSING. Check ourselves and our biases.

Question 13

Consequentialism –

Answer 13

Ends justify the means. Teleology

Question 14

Utilitarianism –

Answer 14

greatest good for the greatest number

Question 15

Deontology –

Answer 15

RULE Based; formalism. Categorical imperative

Question 16

Categorical imperative –

Answer 16

applies to
everyone

Question 17

Example of utilitarianism

Answer 17

Greatest good for greatest number: use of resources
Does everyone get a little so it’s spread around or do some get more than others?
Flu vaccine shortage

Question 18

Example of Deontology

Answer 18

Rule based; No one who abuses alcohol 6
months prior to a transplant gets a
liver transplant. A person had one drink for new
year’s. Should the be taken off the transplant list?

Question 19

Value neutrality

Answer 19

Understand our own values and to know
when to put them aside to become nonjudgmental. Some ethicists believe this is not possible. Requires significant insight.

Question 20

Autonomy

Answer 20

A person’s right to choose and ability to act on that
choice. Based on respect for human dignity. Treat patients with consideration, believe their stories about the course and symptoms of their illnesses.

Question 21

Nonmaleficence

Answer 21

Twofold duty to do no harm and to prevent
harm. Nonmaleficence refers to both actual harm
and risk of harm, as well as to intentional and unintentional harm. Do not kill, cause pain or suffering, or offend. Unintentional harm can also occur because
of lack of knowledge, skill, or ability.

Question 22

“Willful disregard” –

Answer 22

failure to prevent harm, disregard safety of others

Question 23

Beneficence

Answer 23

Duty to do good or promote good, protect and defend, help persons with disabilities, rescue person in danger
Example: Teach patients disease prevention and wellness

Question 24

Fidelity

Answer 24

(Faithfulness) is the duty to keep promises.

Question 25

Veracity

Answer 25

Duty to tell the truth. May be challenging to determine how much of the truth to tell.

Question 26

Justice

Answer 26

Obligation to be fair. Implies equal treatment of all patients. Time allocate among patients to larger
decisions, such as how to allocate limited healthcare resources.

Question 27

Patient Care Partnership

Answer 27

When patients are admitted to hospitals or to extended
care facilities, they are entitled to specific rights in terms
of treatment. These include: right to make own decisions, be active partners in the treatment process, be treated with dignity and respect.

Question 28

Processes for Ethical Practice

Answer 28

Values clarification, identify moral dilemmas, use a decision-making model, participate on an ethics committee
MORAL acronym

Question 29

M O R A L

Answer 29

Massage the dilemma, Outline
the options, Resolve the dilemma, Act by
applying the chosen option, Look back and
evaluate

Question 30

Problem or Dilemma

Answer 30

Ethical dilemma – when there are 2
conflicting, equally undesirable options
No clear right or wrong
Not all moral problems are dilemmas
Not all are complex and difficult