Bioethics D

• Lobbying


  Communicating nurse's view on local, state, or national policy issues to the elected officials in a timely and effective manner which leads to favorable change in the quality practice of profession
• Advocating


  To bring up and publicize an issue within a community
• Lobbying


  To direct that effort to those in positions at power
• Types of lobbying


  • Direct lobbying
  • Grassroots lobbying
• Direct lobbying


  Communications directed to policymakers that ask them to vote for or against specific legislation
• Grassroots lobbying


  Communication that mobilize the general public (the grassroots) to contact elected officials and urge them to vote for or against specific legislation
• Who is a lobbyist


  • Any person who in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, attempts to secure the passage, amendment or defeat of any legislation by the legislative assembly or approval or veto of any legislation by the governor of the state
  • Attempts to influence decisions made by legislative council or by an interim committee of the legislative council
• Health care lobbyists are most commonly employed by

  • Insurance groups
  • Drug companies
  • Specialty organizations
  • Public health groups
  • Others who have a stake in health care legislation
• Ethical dilemmas related to lobbying tend to arise when various behaviors by lobbyists and lawmakers undermine the fairness and transparency of that process and do not contribute to the common good
• Lobbying has acquired a questionable reputation among ethically sensitive persons for two reasons: The methods sometimes used in trying to influence legislation corrupt the legislative system by providing personal advantages to policymakers, and lobbyists often appear to be less interested in good policy than in protecting their own interests
• Fairness issues in lobbying

  • Paying a policy maker to vote in a favourable way
  • Rewarding him or her after a vote with valuable considerations
  • Some lobbyists having easier access to lawmakers than others
  • Other kinds of relationships besides collegiality may undermine fairness
• One way to improve the fairness of the lobbying process is to make sure that possible sources of influence are visible to the public
• An ethical approach to lobbying must ensure that someone stands up for the common good
• Lobbyist Code of Ethics Articles

  • Honesty & Integrity
  • Compliance with Applicable Laws, Regulations & Rules
  • Professionalism
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • Due Diligence & Best Efforts
  • Compensation and Engagement Terms
  • Confidentiality
  • Public Education
  • Duty to Governmental Institutions
• Republic Act No. 1827 regulates lobbying in the Congress of the Philippines and in the Commission on Appointments
• Provisions of Republic Act No. 1827


  • Licenses for lobbyists; Suspension or Revocation
  • Lobby Registry
  • Restriction on Practice of Lobbying
• Good Lobbying is citizen behavior, not consumer behavior
• Clinical Practice Boundaries for Nurses

  • Respecting patients' dignity
  • Right to self-determination
  • Delegating tasks appropriately
  • Practicing good judgment
  • Accepting accountability in practice
  • Alleviating suffering
  • Being attentive to patients' interests
  • Working within the nurse practice acts and nursing standards of practice
• Professional Practice Boundaries for Nurses

  • Maintaining authenticity in all relationships with others such as nurse-to-nurse relationships, nurse-physician relationships, nurse-to-patient relationships, and multidisciplinary collaboration
  • Addressing and evaluating issues of impaired practice: Fraternizing inappropriately with patients or others; Accepting inappropriate gifts from patients and families; Confidentiality and privacy violations; and Unhealthy, unsafe, illegal, or unethical environments
• Self-Care and Self-Development Boundaries and Obligations for Nurses


  • Participating in self-care activities to maintain and promote moral self-respect
  • Professional growth and competence, wholeness of character in nurses' actions and in relationships with others, and preservation of integrity
  • Advancing knowledge and research through professionalism, practice, education, and administrative contributions