Dilemmas of care

Article Abstract:

Nurses are often required to make difficult ethical decisions, such as being responsible for withdrawing treatment that may otherwise extend the life of critically ill new-born babies. Nurses must ensure they are acting within the law, however, as it is no defence to claim they were acting under superior orders or were carrying out a mercy killing. Medical personnel must use their discretion to decide if extraordinary measures are justifiable or if patients should have the right to die. A medical-legal framework has not been established because professionals cannot agree on the ethical guidelines.

Laws, regulations and rules, Neonatal intensive care

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Are nursing's 'extraordinary' moral standards realistic?

Article Abstract:

The moral standards expected of nurses means that they are often forced to make difficult decisions about their moral obligations. Such problems mean that nurses are continually having to choose between their responsibilities to their families, patients and clients. The UKCC Code of Professional Conduct appears to require nurses to place the interests of patients above those of their families. If nurses are expected to carry out supererogatory acts, they should be told about them before they join the profession.

Supererogation

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Moral obligation

Article Abstract:

The teaching of ethics on nursing courses to date has been mandatory by Project 2000. However, a review by the General Medical Council may change this. The benefits of including ethics in the curriculum are discussed, along with the differentiation between medical ethics and nursing ethics, and whether students should be taught health-care ethics.

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