Legal and Ethics in Nursing: Codes of Practice, Duty of Care, and Medical Negligence

Legal and Ethics

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Nursing codes of practice/conduct/ethics....................................................................................1
Australian Charter of Health Care Rights...................................................................................1
Duty of Care................................................................................................................................2
The concept of “reasonable standard of care”.............................................................................2
Medical negligence.....................................................................................................................2
Coroner........................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Nurses are considered to be as supporters for the patients who tends to focus on finding
balance at the time of delivering care to the patient (Atkins, De Lacey, Ripperger, & Ripperger,
(2020)). They in turn adhere to the key basic principles which mainly includes justice, autonomy,
beneficence and non- maleficence. This study will highlight on the Nursing codes of
practice/conduct/ethics, Australian Charter of Health Care Rights, Duty of Care, the key concept
of “reasonable standard of care”, medical negligence, etc.
MAIN BODY
Nursing codes of practice/conduct/ethics
The code of conduct within the care home for the health care practitioners tends to set out the
legal rules and professional behaviour and conducting expectations for nurses within the health
setting in Australia. However, the code is usually written in the recognition that the nursing
practice is not only restricted to the key provisions of the various direct clinical care (Chadwick,
& Gallagher, (2016)). The key codes of practice associated with the nursing or patient dignity,
promotion of patient safety, self-integrity, accountability, patient interest, responsibilities,
influence on the environment, global perspective, continuous education, professional association
et cetera. However, this helps health practitioners in making the right decision for best possible
patient care. It is very useful in affectively dealing with different area of the patients care by
adhering to the code of conduct at the time of interaction with the patients. As per the specific
case study, the nurse has not given anaesthetist to the patient even though the reading was low of
the oxygen.
Australian Charter of Health Care Rights
The Australian charter of the health care rights tends to describe right of other people and
patients to use the healthcare system of the Australian (Legal, ethical and professional aspects of
duty of care for nurses, 2017). There are seven rights associated with the Australian charter of
healthcare rights which are right to access to healthcare facilities, right to receive high-quality
and safe health services, Right to show respect and patient must be treated with consideration
and dignity. Forthright is associated with communication when they have the right to be
informed about treatment, care services, cost with utmost transparency. Fifth right is associated
with participation where they will be included in the decision making process (Daly, Speedy, &
Jackson, (2017)). Sixth right is related with privacy where confidential and personal information
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