Nursing Ethics, Law and Practice

Running Head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note

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1.
1.1
Ethics- ethics are the moral principles through which a person is guided in relation to morally
correct decision making. Ethical principles are not legally binding on any person however
compliance with such principles ensure legal compliance and development of the community
(Beecher & Henry 2017).
1.2
Bioethics- The ethical principles which are applicable in the field of biological research as well
as medicine is known as bioethics (Chadwick & Gallagher, 2016).
1.3
Nursing Ethics – Nursing ethics are those ethical principles which act as a guideline for nurses to
make proper and ethical decisions in relation to carrying out their obligations as nurses (Beecher
& Henry 2017)..
2.1
Consequentialism is form of ethical principle through the application of which moral decisions
are made based in the consequences of the decision. One of the primary through which is based
in the principle of consequences is Utilitarianism. The decision ensuring overall happiness is a
correct decision (Chadwick & Gallagher, 2016).
2.2
Deontological ethics - Deontology is an ethical theory which is based on deontology ethics.
According to the principles of Deontological ethics decision should be taken based on the duty of

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person without giving any relevance to the consequences or outcome of the decision (Beecher &
Henry 2017).
3.
3.1
Civil law is a branch of law which deals with conflicts between private persons. This means that
the government is not a party to the dispute and the penalty which is provided is of compensation
and not imprisonment (Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.2
Common law- Common Law is a kind of law which is provided through precedent cases
adjudged by the judges. In this form of law the doctrine of precedent is applicable. This means
that the decision of the higher court binds the judgment of a lower court (Griffith & Tengnah
2017).
3.3
Statute law- the law which has been expressly enacted by the parliament is known as statue law.
This form of law has the capacity of overriding common law. The law is passed specifically in
relation to addressing a particular area of law such as health care practices and environmental
protection (Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.4
Precedent- The judgment which has been provided by a high court judge and is binding on the
judge of a lower court who has the question of addressing cases with a similar fact is called
precedent. The lower court has the responsibility of following the judgment of a higher court
(Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.5
Law of torts

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The law of torts is an area of civil law which has been inducted into the legal system to provide
remedies to those parties who rights have been infringed by some other person. Compensation is
a form of remedy under this law (Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.6
Negligence
Negligence is a branch of tort law which has been enacted for the purpose of compensating the
injured party for loss incurred. The elements of negligence are Duty of care, breach of duty and
injury caused to the plaintiff (Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.7
Assault
Assault is a form of intentional tort in which one party apprehends to cause damages to another
party and therefore creates fear and mental injury intentionally. Here no physical elements is
involved between the parties (Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.8
Battery
Battery is also a form of intentional tort in which one party actually causes damages to another
party through the use of physical force and thereby causing mental as well as physical injury to
the other party. Here bodily harm needs to be incurred by the other party (Griffith & Tengnah
2017).
3.9
Legal capacity
Legal capacity denotes the legal qualification of a person to legally get into an act. a person who
does not have a legal capacity to enter into an act makes the act void at law. for instance mentally
ill persons do not have legal capacity for contracting (Griffith & Tengnah 2017).
3.10