Lecture 3

• Ethics

  A branch of philosophy that refers to the study of values that conform to moral standards of a group or profession
• Bioethics

  The term used to these principles when they refer to concepts within the scope of medicine, nursing & allied health
• 4 principles of Biomedical ethics

  • Autonomy
  • Beneficence
  • Non-maleficence
  • Justice
• Autonomy

  When a person has the capacity to make decisions. Should be supported in the process & respected for their rights to make decisions
• We can override a person's autonomy


  For the benefit of the wider community or for the benefit of the person themselves
• Beneficence

  Try in all instances to do the best for the people who we are caring for. We have a duty to act for the best interests of the person we are working with
• Non-maleficence


  It corporates the medical doctrine of first do no harm. Should be wary of any action that causes harm to people
• Justice

  All our actions should be proportionate. Should provide equity of distribution & treatment in care of individuals. Refrain from discrimination
• Legal framework

  • Mental health Act
  • Mental health board review
  • Mental health advisory
  • Nursing Act
  • Code of Ethics
• Nurses working in the mental health facility


  • Draws on a range of information in making clinical decisions
  • Decisions are made in keeping with the law & using the legal frameworks to guide practice
  • Decisions are guided by evidence, codes of practice, policy & procedure, guidelines, patient's preferences & own experience
• Professional framework

  Decisions are guided by the Fiji Nursing Council (FNC), a professional body that regulates the practice of nursing in Fiji
• Nurses working in the mental health units need to understand the ethical & legal frameworks that inform, guide & influence decision making
• When doing so, they can practice in confidence using the frameworks to inform practice to promote recovery, improve service provision & improve patient experience