Law and Ethics in Nursing: Decision-Making Through Utilitarian and Deontological Frameworks
Overview
This paper examines the legal and ethical obligations of nursing practitioners through the lens of a case study involving emergency care and blood transfusion. It analyzes how utilitarian and deontological ethical theories justify clinical decision-making, while demonstrating adherence to core nursing ethical principles including beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice.
What this essay covers
- Introduction establishing the importance of legal and ethical compliance in nursing practice
- Body section analyzing utilitarian theory and greatest good principles in triage decisions
- Deontological ethics analysis regarding patient rights, harm prevention, and informed consent
- Discussion of nursing ethical principles and their application in patient care
Preview
Law and Ethics in Nursing
Introduction
For a long time, legal suits arise because of how practitioners make decisions. As a practitioner, you are always expected to do the right thing, ensuring that you follow the correct clinical procedures. Adhering to the code of ethics and legal expectations of the profession is essential. When patients complain about your decisions, you will have clear reasons to defend your choices.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, every decision during clinical procedures has legal and ethical ramifications. Without following the code of ethics and legislations, practitioners face frequent legal suits because of their weak and ineffective decisions. Upholding the principles of ethics, the duty of care, veracity and fidelity, and informed consent prevent any challenges during and after the care process. Critical ethical theories, such as utilitarianism and deontology ethics, can also explain the reasons behind certain decisions during the care process.
Practitioners in the case study followed the legal and ethical obligations based on the prevailing conditions or circumstances when Elenore and her mother visited the hospital. The availability of resources, the state of the accident victims, and working procedures between physicians and nurses led to the decisions. They were the best alternatives that practitioners were expected to follow based on the code of ethics and legal requirements in Australia.
Body
The theory of utilitarianism was demonstrated through the decisions made in the case scenario. The theory of utilitarianism argues that the outcome of any decision justifies the means.