Ethics Q2

• Principle of Totality - all decisions in medical ethics must prioritize the good of the entire person, including physical, psychological, and spiritual factors.
• Principle of Cooperation - participation of one agent in the activity of another agent. Teamwork
• Principle of Stewardship - encompasses the ethical responsibility to act on behalf of others.
• Principle of Double Effect - one may perform an action which has two effects. Bad and Good.
• Confidentiality- keeping secure and secret from others.
• Informed Consent- process in which health care provider educates a patient about risks, benefits, and alternatives of a given procedure.
• Nurse's Role in Informed Consent

  • the nurse must confirm the patient received and understood the procedure, it's risks, benefits, and alternatives
  • Ensure the patient was competent and gave consent voluntarily
• Who is responsible for obtaining informed consent?

  • The physician
• Who is allowed to give Informed Consent

  • Patient who is competent to give consent
  • Must be an adult and of sound mind
  • In children, informed consent must be taken from parents
• Who cannot give informed consent?

  • Incapacitated patients
  • Life threatening emergencies
  • Voluntarily waived consent
• Factors violating patient autonomy

  • if family members or member of healthcare team pressures a patient
  • If they act on patients behalf without patient's permission
• Incarceration - Putting or keeping someone in prison or a place used as a prison.
• Coercion - Process of persuading someone forcefully to do something that they do not want to do
• Enslavement - act of taking or holding someone as a slave
• Living Wills - written statements detailing a person's desire regarding their medical treatment when they are no longer able to express informed consent
• General Power of Attorney - only operates while you are still coherent and mentally capable.
• Durable Power of Attorney - remains operational upon incapacity, although it expires upon death.