Jessica Wilson Case Study 2022

Running Head: CASE STUDY ON JESSICA WILSON
CASE STUDY ON JESSICA WILSON
Name of the Student:
Name of the University
Author Note

CASE STUDY ON JESSICA WILSON1
Response to question No. 1
To define the problem it can be said that the nurse Sam is in ethical dilemma about
the further activities applicable for Jessica Wilson. Jessica is a girl aged fifteen years and
victimised fainting during a course of cross-country tour. Constant questioning of Sam
regarding Jessica’s previous activities made her confused and uncomfortable
(Health.nsw.gov.au, 2019). Jessica suspects that she might get pregnant after Sam’s
interrogation regarding her sexual activeness. She also requests Sam not to disclose this
matter or suspicion to her mother. Sam also reflects that Jessica is not capable enough to
understand her condition and not able to take her own decision.
As a parent when Mrs Wilson (Jessica’s mother) inquires about Jessica’s health to
Sam, being a nurse she should address some ethical issues. According to the International
Council of Nurses and Code of Ethics for Nurses, there is no law for mandatorily disclosing
the fact of pregnancy to others including parents. The child may or may not take consent of
the parents for the medical treatment. It also states that the nurse can avoid the child’s
decision measuring the decision-making competence.
Response to question No. 2
There are some ethical and legal issues need to be mentioned in regards to Jessica’s
case study (Health.nsw.gov.au, 2019). According to the International Council of Nurses Code
of Ethics for Nurses during treating adolescents under the age group of 18 years these facts
needs to be taken under consideration.
 Capacity of the adolescents to assent the medical therapy on their own.
 Parental assent for the treatment.
 Confidentiality in accessing medical records.
 Protection of child and maternity reports.

CASE STUDY ON JESSICA WILSON2
According to Australian law, children under the age group of 18 are considered as minor.
Persons under the age group of 14 years might have the ability to consent to medical
treatment, which will be determined by their level of maturity. The law also states that a
parent can take the consent to medical treatment on behalf of the patient if he or she belong to
the minor age group. If in any case the patient is considered to be capable enough to take her
own decision, the parent can still consent for the medicinal treatments. However, the nurse
considers that the patient is competent (Kangasniemi et al., 2017) the nurse can allow both
the patient and parent’s assent to proceed further. The above mentioned laws are applicable
for general cases only but in case of emergency the nurse can provide first aid services
without any consent of either the child or the parent. In emergency case, if the patient is
minor her decision will not be the ultimate. If the patient is, 16 years or over, then the patient
can accept or refuse the medical treatment. In this case of Jessica Wilson, it can be said that it
is not an emergency case. Jessica is a minor patient and also displays confusion about the
decision making that is clearly stated in the conversation noted in this case study. As a nurse,
Sam will be in mental dilemma about confronting Jessica’s physical condition to her mother.
Along with that, Sam should remember the above mentioned legal factors before disclosing
Jessica’s physical condition to her parent. According to the Australian guideline the
healthcare provider should remember some aspects in mind before treating Jessica
 Her attitude about decision making.
 Whether Jessica is aware about the legal issues related to her illness.
 Jessica’s decision about disclosing her illness to her mother.
Response to question No. 3
After discussing the legal and ethical issues, the paper demands the probable options
for Sam as a nurse. Being a nurse Sam is a dilemma while assessing this case study of Jessica