Ethical and Legal issues in nursing Discussion 2022

Running head: ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN NURSING 1
Ethical and Legal issues in nursing
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ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN NURSING 2
Introduction
Ethics refers to the concept of being right or wrong. It looks into what is right and wrong
for peoples. The nursing field involves a lot of situations faced with ethical issues. The condition
may be a request made, a decision, or maybe a raised concern (Dicks, 2017). There are
challenges that threaten the performance and code of conduct of nurses while giving medical
care to patients (Baillie & Black, 2015). Nurses in contemporary society are supposed to adhere
to the foundational moral values, role, and laws which are vital in the nursing profession.
Professional negligence accounts for legal action since every malpractice is bound by the same
code that guides their actions. Even when faced with a difficult situation with a patient, the
degree of their efforts should not involve a breach of duty; this is what legal issues entail. It is
what the system has put in place to guide actions and behaviors. Nurses are supposed to
discharge their duties based on their judgment. (Riedel, 2015) The same code of ethics also
provides guidelines in case a situation arose, and it presents an ethical dilemma environment.
This discussion will discuss the code of conduct and ethical dilemma situations that faces nurses
in their day to day operations.
The legal and ethical concern
The primary purpose of the nurse is the patient, In this case, Mavis. As a nurse, I think
the need for Mavis and her thoughts must be recognized. Additionally, I have to advocate and
safeguards her health, safety, and, more so, her rights as a patient (Benedictus and Elwes, 2018).
Mavis declined any further assistance and became resistant. Her condition is worse, and every
vital sign warrants medical attention. Understanding that a patient has the moral right to refuse
treatment and care from medical personnel, it is not enough to judge that Mavis' decision making
is perfect. It collides with my ethical standards and clinical judgment as a health custodian

ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN NURSING 3
(Standing, 2017). If her decision or choices are to be allowed, definitely they would lead to harm.
This scenario presents a conflict. As a nurse, the dilemma is between respecting the patient's
right to freedom (autonomy) versus the need to safeguard and protect her from harm. These
ethical dilemmas are referred to as beneficence and autonomy. The law bound me to safeguard
her health rather than her decision. The code of ethics highlights that a nurse always values the
culture of safety in nursing while practicing health care (Baillie & Black, 2015). This
compromising situation means that I will be accountable in which decision I choose to apply.
Assessing Mavis' case, it is evident that the ethical and legal standards allow me to act contrary
to her wishes. The past days, she underwent surgery, and an attempt to get out of the hospital has
made her remove the dressing from the wound. The act of smearing faces in her wound may
cause infection, and on top of that, she removed the IV cannula and is breeding. What could go
wrong if her situation is unattended?
Actions and implications.
The first thing to consider is communication. Mavis needs to know the consequences of
refusing assistance and medical care. The main aim won’t be to establish the cause of
vulnerability, fear of unknown, and distrust by Mavis. But to give her details of the expected
results in the case, she continues refusing medical attention (Rehman, 2016). In a situation, a
patient refuses life-sustaining treatments; what left to choose is to forego the procedure or force
the medication to such a patient (Baillie & Black, 2015). It is not a guarantee that communication
will always work. In even it fails, I would consider ethical values that encourage collaboration
with other medical personnel. The reason for doing this is to make a multilateral decision to
avoid legal action that may come as a result of considering a one-sided viewpoint.