Contemporary Ethical Systems in Healthcare for Australian Indigenous Patients

This paper discusses the contemporary ethical system of ‘social or cultural relativism’ and its relevance in the caring of patients belonging to the Australian Indigenous/Aboriginal groups. It also explores the challenges faced by nurses while interacting with culturally diverse patients and the importance of incorporating cultural preferences in patient-centered care.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL SYSTEMS
CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL SYSTEMS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL SYSTEMS
Introduction
Ethical values in healthcare seek to dictate nurses, the moral standards of right and wrong
underlying patient care and treatment (Choi et al., 2017). The following paragraphs of this paper
will focus on the contemporary ethical system of ‘social or cultural relativism’ and its relevance
in the caring of patients belonging to the Australian Indigenous/Aboriginal groups.
Discussion
Chosen Ethical System and Population
The contemporary ethical system which has been chosen is ‘social or cultural relativism’.
As examined by Joel (2017), in the book ‘Advanced Practice Nursing’ the contemporary ethical
system of social or cultural relativism imply that the ethics surrounding healthcare and care
decisions concerning treatment will be determined by the unique societal and cultural beliefs,
preferences and practices possessed by the patient or the population group he or she belongs to.
Hence, as per this ethical system, the concerned nurse must seek to maintain nursing autonomy
along with the consideration and empathetic understanding of cultural values and preferences
unique to the patient (Byme, 2016).
Social and cultural relativism is widely practiced in Australia concerning a major
proportion of its indigenous and Aboriginal population comprising of this country’s population
and the rich cultural and spatial diverse healthcare practices possessed by the inhabitants of the
same (Hunt et al., 2015). Hence, as per the Nursing Standard of 1.3 formulated by the Nursing
and Midwifery Board of Australia, registered nurses in Australia are required to respect the
unique cultural identity of such diverse patients which is in compliance to the contemporary

2CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL SYSTEMS
ethical practice of social and cultural relativism (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia,
2019).
Interacting with Culturally Diverse Patient
Patients belonging to indigenous communities are in possession of a diverse set of
cultural, spiritual, religious and medicinal practices and preferences which are unique to their
ethnic identity (Shen, 2015). Hence, as a nurse I would comply with the Nursing Scope and
Standards of Practice formulated by the American Nurses Association (ANA). As per the ANA’s
standards, nurses must be empathetic and understanding towards the unique cultural preferences
of a concerned patient and practice patient centered care to incorporate such diverse needs during
patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment (American Nurses Association, 2019). However,
Joel (2017), also notes that a patient’s culture presents dynamic perspectives on healthcare which
must be taken into consideration only after a patient attaches considerable importance to it.
Hence, considering the same, I must first obtain consent from the patient in order to take
permission to consider cultural perspectives in his or her nursing care plan.
Problems Foreseen
Indigenous population groups possess their own healthcare principles which often
encompass deity worship or herbal medicines as effective treatment procedures. Hence, this may
pose to be a problem due to conflicts with established evidence based research and nursing
autonomy in healthcare (Devitt et al., 2017). Hence, a comprehensive patient plan, comprising of
patient and family centered approaches along with multidisciplinary care need to be considered
by the nurse. This would involve extensive discussions between the patient, his or her family, the
nurse and associated health professional team in order to arrive at a conclusion on what would be
the best possible, culturally competent treatment practice for the patient (Jacklin et al., 2017).

3CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL SYSTEMS
Conclusion
Hence, to conclude, social and cultural relativism emphasizes on the importance a
patient’s cultural needs hold in terms of wellbeing and healthcare. However, cultural practice
must be considered in compliance with evidence based research and nursing autonomy.

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