Legal and Ethical Practice: Truth Telling and Veracity

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, principles, and regulatory frameworks related to truth-telling, veracity, and ethics in nursing practice.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern how a person or a group will behave or conduct themselves.

Truth-Telling

The practice of providing accurate and complete information to patients about their health, treatment options, and prognosis, respecting their right to make informed care decisions.

Veracity

The ethical duty to tell the truth and not deceive or mislead patients, essential for maintaining trust, integrity, and supporting autonomy.

Autonomy

The ethical principle stating that individuals have the right to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare.

Non-Maleficence

The ethical principle of not doing harm, which was historically used to justify withholding bad news or lying if truth-telling was thought to cause emotional distress.

Conspiracy of Silence

A phenomenon identified by Testoni et al. (2020) where physicians withhold clinical truth from patients, placing nurses in ethical dilemmas and causing stress, guilt, and frustration.

Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights

A guidance charter defining consumer rights in Australian healthcare settings, encompassing Access, Safety, Respect, Partnership, Information, Privacy, and Feedback.

ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses

An international professional code providing ethical guidance on nursing roles, responsibilities, behaviors, and decision-making, such as ensuring patients receive understandable and accurate information.

Principle 4: Professional Behaviour

A nursing code of conduct principle establishing the core value that nurses embody integrity, honesty, respect, and compassion.

Registered Nurse Standard 2

A practice standard requiring RNs to engage in therapeutic and professional relationships by communicating effectively, respecting dignity and rights, and advocating while respecting patient autonomy.