LWD101 Ethics, Law & Health Care: Case Study Analysis at QUT

This case study addresses ethical and legal issues in healthcare, focusing on a scenario involving a 16-year-old pregnant girl named Stella, her doctor Victoria, her boyfriend, and her aunt. The central issues revolve around Stella's request for an abortion and her reluctance to inform her aunt about the pregnancy. The analysis evaluates these issues through the lens of the nursing code of ethics, ethical principles like autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, and relevant legal considerations. It outlines potential actions for RN Victoria, emphasizing the importance of informing Stella's aunt and involving her in the decision-making process. The study further details implementation steps and assesses potential outcomes, stressing the need to prioritize Stella's health and well-being while adhering to ethical and legal guidelines. Desklib offers similar case studies and solved assignments for students.

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Running Head: Ethics, Law & Health Care
Ethics, Law and Health Care

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Table of Contents
Identified issues & collected Information....................................................................................................3
Parties that are involved in this case........................................................................................................3
Issues.......................................................................................................................................................3
Evaluate the issue........................................................................................................................................3
a) Code of Ethics.................................................................................................................................3
b) Ethical Principles.............................................................................................................................4
c) Legal/Law issues.............................................................................................................................5
3. Action......................................................................................................................................................5
Options for the steps for action................................................................................................................6
4. Implementation........................................................................................................................................6
5. Assess Outcomes.....................................................................................................................................6
References...................................................................................................................................................8

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Identified issues & collected Information
Parties that are involved in this case- In this case, different parties are involved. These parties
are Stella, Victoria, boyfriend of Stella and aunt of Stella. Here, Stella is a patient and Victoria is
doctor.
Issues-
Issue 1- Stella has no desire for delivery of her child. So, Stella is requesting the doctor to abort
the child.
Issue 2- Stella wants to discover the information of abortion from her aunt as she is pregnant by
her boyfriend. The aunt of Stella does not know about this situation.
Evaluate the issue
a) Code of Ethics
The above issues are containing the code of ethics. The code of ethics is discussed as below:
In professional manner, the major responsibility of the nurses is to provide excellent care
services. The nursing professionals are promoting the environment in which the human rights,
values, family customs and the community can be respected (Epstein & Turner, 2015). In this
regard, Victoria has a need to take a legitimate decision to provide better care services to Stella
as she is not mature or adult and not able to born a child. Mainly the care providers demonstrate
respectfulness, compassion, trustworthiness and integrity for their patients. The care providers
require taking care of integrity and safety of the patient (Lachman, Swanson, & Winland-Brown,
2015). In this concern, the nurses are responsible to provide appropriate and better care services
for the patients in possible manner (Porta, 2018).
Morris, & Nott (2018) depicted that the nurses or care providers share their responsibilities of
imitating and supporting action to meet the need of better health in the community. Individual
responsibilities and accountabilities are carried out by the nursing staff. In this concern, the care
providers also require to follow the accurate process of providing excellent treatment or care
services for the patients in respectful manner.
VS1(2) “Nurses are very active in contributing in diminishing the associated harms to all
individuals. The nursing staffs are associated to the potential unethical or illegal.”
VS5(2) “The nurses have good training in entire circumstances to assist the role of friends,
family members, partners and others in making decision.”

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If, the individuals or patients have the capability, than these patients will the right to take a
decision or refuse decisions of treatment of life-saving. In this situation, the nurses or care
providers cannot interfere to save the life of the individual or patient (Rivas, & Wac, 2018).
VS6(2) "Entire nurses participate their role in averting and detecting the associated inaccuracy or
the unpleasant proceedings from the healthcare services. It contributes and sustains different
nursing systems to identify the incidents in which the patients are getting harm”.
In case of Stella, if the doctors do abortion of Stella than the doctors will be responsible for any
negative outcomes. Therefore, it is essential for RN Victoria to assemble entire required
information about the situation and tell entire situation to Stella’s aunt and then take better
decision to provide treatment (Mason, & Megone, 2018).
VS8(2)-"The nurses or the care providers are sensitive and educated about the environmental and
different social factor that may contribute in recovering the pessimistic health of the individual or
patients."
In this concern, it is analyzed that RN Victoria is able to talk directly with the Stella’s aunt about
the existing issues and future effect of abortion on Stella’s health. Therefore, RN Victoria should
give better advice to Stella, her aunt and boyfriend too. In order to provide an excellent solution
or treatment of the existing issue, it is essential to take an effectual and better decision, which
could not impact negatively on Stella’s health in future (Oman, 2018)
b) Ethical Principles
Autonomy: From the case study it is analyzed that Stella has not any right in legal manner to take
a decision for the solution of the issue as she is not adult. As well as, she cannot refuse the
consent of treatments. Stella got pregnant in age of 16, so it may harm hinder her health in
negative manner at 16 years is not enough for a lady to give birth to a kid. Thus, it is essential for
RN Victoria to take an appropriate decision which will not hamper to health of Stella in future
(Ell, 2018).
Beneficence: If, a patient is not mature than the care provider should inform to parents of the
patients before providing treatment for serious issues. As, Stella is 16 years old and not mature to
born a kid, so it is the responsibility of RN Victoria to inform the family members of Stella
before providing any treatment. If RN Victoria is not able to inform the family members of Stella
than the taken decision of RN Victoria will be considered as a wrong decision. By letting her
aunt know it would be easier for the RN Victoria to take the appropriate and reliable decision for

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the betterment of Stella. As well as, it will be helpful in including some more perfect procedures
to provide treatment for Stella (Ell, 2018).
Non- Maleficence: Stella got pregnant in age of 16 year therefore it is very important for the aunt
of Stella to be aware about the conditions which are faced by her. She might be at risk so it is
very important for her aunt to know about each and everything, which is going to happen. If, her
aunt gets aware of it than it will be helpful for Stella in getting rid of this situation by taking
some fruitful decisions with the help of consultation with RN Victoria.
Justice: It is a critical time to acknowledge the decision of Stella. Therefore, RN Victoria should
take an effective decision for Stella, which will not harm to life of Stella in future. If, Victoria
cannot provide an effective treatment or take better decision than Stella and her child may be in
trouble (Watson, 2018).
c) Legal/Law issues
 The refusal may be helpful in preventing the treatment, during the period when the consent is
needed.
 According to the legislation of Queensland, it is essential for immature patients to take advice or
inform about the situation to their elder. In situation of losing capacity, the nurses are required to
take an appropriate decision to save the life of patients (Hatton, & Fisher, 2018).
3. Action
There are several codes of performers that can be applied in nursing services of Australia
(NMBA 2008b). These codes are described as below:
CS4(1) “The nurses can develop an effective environment for the patients by considering the
cultural knowledge, values, decision or beliefs of the person and personal wishes in care
services. As well as, the family members and partners are nominated to create a social network.”
The statement of CS4(1), make clear that why actually Stella not intended to share the
information about her pregnancy with her aunt otherwise RN Victoria won't be able to get good
treatment for Stella (Rivas, & Wac, 2018).
CS7 (1) "The nursing professionals update the patient who requires nursing services. It
comprises where the individuals or their family members such as health interpreter, partners, and
friends are nominated to recommend about the care of nursing. It is helpful for an individual to
take an informed decision."

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According to the statement of CS7(1) Stella is not allowing to tell her situation of pregnancy her
aunt as she is unconscious the situation. As per this statement, the RN Victoria is responsible to
have a meeting with boyfriend and aunt of Stella to inform them about the situation and take an
appropriate decision of treatment (Watson, 2018).
Options for the steps for action
The first Action- It is required for RN Victoria to talk with the aunt and boyfriend of Stella to
know the entire circumstance behind the issue in polite manner.
Second Action- It is required for RN Victoria to have consultation with aunt of Stella as Stella is
not aware seriously about the situation. At Stella is not enough mature to birth a kid, therefore, it
is essential to inform the family members of responsible person of Stella about the entire case.
The care provider or the nurse has the responsibility to inform the responsible person of Stella
about the entire situation and effect of treatment of health of Stella (Haker, & Beyleveld, 2018).
The third Action- The responsible care professional or RN Victoria should have attention on
finding an appropriate way to provide better treatment and help Stella to get rid from this critical
situation. Due to immature age, Stella cannot birth a child, so RN Victoria should take a better
decision to provide better treatment for Stella.
4. Implementation
First Step- Based on code of ethics RN Victoria will take an effective decision regarding the
aborting of abortion of Stella in case of abortion of Stella.
Second Step- RN Victoria has the responsibility to provide treatment for the existing problem
with Stella. Victoria will discuss with senior doctors to provide better treatment and know better
ideas to resolve the problem.
Third Step- In order to take an appropriate decision and provide treatment RN Victoria will
consider each of the party (Tong, 2018).
5. Assess Outcomes
In entire circumstance, RN Victoria has required to evaluate the final decision of Stella. RN
Victoria should have focus on several resources and ways to resolve the problem in an effective
manner. As a responsible care provider or doctor, RN Victory is responsible to provide an
effective treatment, which will not harm both to health and life of Stella in future. In this
concern, RN Victoria must consider the future impact of treatment on life and health of Stella

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while taking decision of treatment. As well as, RN Victoria must clear entire impact of treatment
in future with the family members of Stella.

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References
Ell, K. (2018). Families and health care: Psychosocial practice. New York: Routledge.
Epstein, B., & Turner, M. (2015). The nursing code of ethics: Its value, its history. OJIN: The
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(2), 1-10.
Haker, H., & Beyleveld, D. (2018). The ethics of genetics in human procreation. New York:
Routledge.
Hatton, D., & Fisher, A. (2018). Women prisoners and health justice: perspectives, issues and
advocacy for an international hidden population. USA: CRC Press.
Lachman, V. D., Swanson, E. O. C., & Winland-Brown, J. (2015). The New'Code of Ethics for
Nurses with Interpretative Statements'(2015): Practical Clinical Application, Part
II. Medsurg Nursing, 24(5), 363.
Mason, S., & Megone, C. (Eds.). (2018). European neonatal research: consent, ethics
committees and law. New York : Routledge.
Morris, A., & Nott, S. (2018). Well Women: The Gendered Nature of Health Care Provision.
New York: Routledge.
Oman, D. (2018). Why Religion and Spirituality Matter for Public Health: Evidence,
Implications, and Resources. Germany: Springer.
Porta, M. (2018). A Dictionary of Public Health. U.K: Oxford University Press.
Rivas, H., & Wac, K. (2018). Digital Health: Scaling Healthcare to the World. Germany:
Springer.
Tong, R. P. (2018). Feminist approaches to bioethics: Theoretical reflections and practical
applications. New York: Routledge.
Watson, K. (2018). Scarlet a: The ethics, law, and politics of ordinary abortion. U.K: Oxford
University Press.