ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN END-OF-LIFE CARE accepted as part of the practice of the

MORALS profession
CONFIDENTIALITY
• An individual’s own code for acceptable
behavior • Anything stated to nurses or healthcare
• They arise from an individual’s conscience providers by patients must remain
• They act as a guide for individual behavior confidential
• They are Learned • The only times this principle may be violated
are:
ETHICS o If patients indicate harm to
• deals with the “rightness “ or “wrongness “ themselves or others
of human behavior o If the patient gives permission for
• concerned with the motivation behind the the information to be shared
behavior VERACITY
• Bioethics is the application of these
principles to life-and- death issues • This principle implies “truthfulness”
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES • Nurses need to be truthful to their clients
• Veracity is an important component of
• Autonomy building trusting relationships.
• Nonmaleficence ACCOUNTABILITY
• Beneficence
• Justice • Individuals need to be responsible for their
• Fidelity own actions
• Confidentiality • Nurses are accountable to themselves and to
• Veracity their colleagues
• Accountability ETHICAL DILEMMAS
AUTONOMY • Occur when a problem exists between
• The freedom to make decisions about ethical principles
oneself • Deciding in favor of one principle usually
• The right to self-determination violates another
• Healthcare providers need to respect • Both sides have “goodness “ and “badness”
patient’s rights to make choices about associated with them
healthcare, even if the healthcare providers WHY CALL AN ETHICS CONSULT?
do not agree with the patient’s decision Ethics Consult can help:
NONMALEFICENCE • Discover and understand the issues
• Requires that no harm be caused to an • Serve as a forum for sharing of concerns and
individual, either unintentionally or questions
deliberately • Identifies possible treatment alternatives
• This principle requires nurses to protect • Provides guidance to the staff, patient and
individuals who are unable to protect family members
themselves • Resolve conflicts
BENEFICENCE USING THE NURSING PROCESS

• This principle means “doing good” for others • Assessment

• Nurses need to assist clients in meeting all • Planning
their needs • Implementation
o Biological • Evaluation
o Psychological ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
o Social
• Describe the problem
JUSTICE
• Gather the facts
• Every individual must be treated equally • Clarify values
• This requires nurses to be non judgement • Note reactions
FIDELITY • Identity ethical principles
• Clarify legal rules
• Loyalty
• Explore options and alternatives
• The promise to fulfill all commitments
• Decide on a recommendation
• The basis of accountability
• Develop an action plan
• Includes the professionals faithfulness or
• Evaluate the plan
loyalty to agreements & responsibilities