Ethics in Nursing Essay

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” Nursing is more than just doing assessments and giving medications; it is going beyond that to know what is right or wrong, what can and cannot be done, and what is considered harming the patients rather than doing them good. In nursing, there is a fine line between what is considered to be negligence and beneficence. According to Marquis (2017), “Ethics is the systemic study of what a person’s conduct and actions should be with regard to self, others human beings, and the environment (pg. 83), on the other hand, it does not necessarily mean that their

In contrasts, Deontology, or the “Kantian Duty Based ethics”, is based on duty or principals

What does respect for human dignity mean in health care and how will it be demonstrated? The concept of human dignity, flowing from the principle of respect, is expressed in numerous ways when nurses go about their work. The idea is based on the principle of respect for persons and is derived from the philosopher Immanuel Kant’s rationalist theory, as well the Judeo- Christian texts, that people should treat others in the same manner in which they desire to be treated: that persons should be treated as ends in themselves, not as means to an end. This

Comock, M. (2011). Legal definitions of accountability, responsibility and liability. Nursing Children and Young People, 23(3), 25-26.

In the scenario, the physician’s action violated the principles of non-maleficence, beneficence and autonomy. First off, the principle of non-maleficence is violated as physicians should strive not to harm patients. For case A2, the doctor allowed the patient’s serious condition to worsen while knowing that the disease is treatable, only for the sake of observing how the disease progresses. The doctor blatantly places the patient in harm simply to fulfil his own curiosity and research progress, rendering his actions considered to be violating the principles of non-maleficence. Second, the doctor also violated the principle of beneficence. As a doctor, we should do what is best for the health of the patients, treating patients in the ways

The Laws and Ethics surrounding the nursing profession are straightforward and easily interpreted but are one of the most important aspects of a nurses’ job. When a nurse walks onto the floor for each shift it is important for the nurse to consider each of the responsibilities that he/she needs to abide by to adequately care for and treat each patient in their care for that shift. The coronary report in regards to Ms Lynette Young (46) shows that some of these considerations have been overlooked while Ms Young was being treated in hospital.

Nurses are to provide compassionate, competent, and ethical care, and follow the moral principles and guidelines set out by the College of Nurses and the Canadian Nurse’s Association’s code of ethics. The nursing profession is a self-sacrificing one, and nurses take on the Nightingale Pledge, to elevate the standard of their practice and dedicate themselves to those committed in their care (Keatings & Smith, 2010, p. 64) However unfavourable working conditions, inadequate patient to nurse ratios, and intensive job-related stress can lead to poor performance of daily routines, and adversely patient safety (Ozata et al., 2013).

Kantian deontology is an ethical theory that was developed by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The founding principle of this theory is known as the categorical imperative. Within the categorical imperative, there are two fundamental formulations to be observed. The first formulation is specified as, “Act only on that maxim which you can at the same time will that it should become universal law.” In other words, one should consider if an action is right or wrong by asking themselves if they would endorse that action. The second formulation is stated as, “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end.” In general, the second formulation is utilized and discussed more often than the first because it provides a more specific and applicable framework for different moral issues. Kantian deontology explains morality in terms of perfect and imperfect duties, both to others and to oneself. Perfect duties refer to acts that are absolutely forbidden and are impermissible under any and all circumstances because they treat oneself or others as mere means. Perfect duties to others forbid an individual to murder, lie, steal, or fail to uphold one’s promises. In terms of oneself, perfect duties include abstaining from drunkenness and suicide. Imperfect duties, on the other hand, offer more leniency, as they are not specific. Imperfect duties to others are

Ethics is the study of moral principles, of good obligation and good commitments, It involves doing good and avoiding harm (Bandman and Bandman, 2002). Ethical rights divers among different cultures, but most cultures hold commonly acceptable ideas (Kaphagawani 2001).

Clinical investigators frequently study individuals who are less than ideal individuals. Oncologists study patients with tumors and cancers to find out best treatment modalities; psychiatrists study individuals who have behavioral problems and test effectivity of a particular medication or therapy; Drug companies perform clinical trials on their medicines. The researchers cannot do much in order to improve the circumstances of their subjects, short of finding new treatments for their conditions that affect them. Sometimes, researchers study individuals who are less than ideal, but remediable conditions. These studies press the question of when it is acceptable for researchers to study rather than assist individuals.

Deontology as made popular by Kant argues that “… standard of rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow …” Johnson and Cureton (2004). One of the major advantages of deontology is that it fits with a common sense of what is right or wrong even within most societies when it comes to the most egregious activities such as torture and murder. An individual’s duty or what they ought to do seems simple in most classes, at least on the surface. What happens when conflicting moral duties arise? For example, is it acceptable to break a promise or tell a lie? It seems that either

When you look at Deontology, this ethical vision looks out for each individual. Every on treated exactly the same, regardless of circumstances. Each ethical law is absolute and can be looked at in one way. The advantage I see is that no one can read into or change ethical laws to suit them; the disadvantage I see is the same. There are issues in

Deontology is an ethical principle that is more concerned with actions rather than the consequences for the actions. This principle was created to bring attention to the correlation between duty and moral actions. Immanuel Kant was the first philosopher to use moral theories and human reasoning to define deontology. DeGeorge mentioned the three formal conditions under Kant’s categorical imperative for an action to be considered moral: (1) it must be amenable to being made consistently universal, (2) it must respect rational beings as ends in themselves, and (3) it must stem from respect the autonomy of rational beings. This universal and imperative way of thinking encourages ethical decision-making that holds everyone accountable for their duty to behave in a manner that morally obeys the law.

“The term deontology comes from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. The theory of deontology states we are morally obligated to act in accordance with a certain set of principles and rules regardless of outcome” (Shakil, n.a). Immanuel Kant expanded on this theory and introduced what has come to be known as “Kantian Deontology.” Kantian Deontology proposes, “no one rational or autonomous creature should be treated as mere means for the enjoyment or even the happiness of another.”(O’ Neil, 1993). Therefore, no person

“Deontology (from the Greek deon, meaning "duty") refers to an ethical theory or perspective based on duty or obligation. A deontological, or duty-based, theory is one in which specific moral duties or obligations are seen as self-evident” (Rueckert-Hartman School for Health Professionals, 2016).