NUR 310 Ethics and Legal Issues: Exam 1

Autonomy

Emphasizes the status of persons as autonomous moral agents whose rights to determine their destinies should always be respected

Beneficence

Refers to one’s duty to benefit or promote the good of others

Nonmaleficence

Abstaining from negative acts toward another; includes acting carefully to avoid harm

Justice

• This principle reflects a duty to treat all individuals equally and fairly

• According to this principle, the vast disparitiy in the quality of care dispensed to the various socioeconomic classes within our society would be considered unjust

Veracity

Principle that refers to one’s duty to always be truthful

Ethics

A branch of philosophy that deals with distinguishing right from wrong

Bioethics

Term applied to ethics when they refer to concepts within the scope of medicine, nursing, and allied health

Moral Behavior

Conduct that results from serious critical thinking about how individuals should treat others

Values

Personal beliefs about what is important and desirable

Values Clarification

A process of self-exploration by which people identify and rank their own personal values

Right

An expectation to which an individual is entitled by established laws, policies, or ethical principles

Absolute Right

When there is no restriction whatsoever on the individual’s entitlement

Legal Right

A right that society has agreed upon and formalized into law

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that promotes action based on the end result that produces the most good (happiness) for the most people

Kantianism

Suggests that decisions and actions are bound by a sense of duty

Divine Command Ethics

An approach to ethical decision making that is focus on that which is commanded by god

Natural Law Theory

Human knowledge of the difference between good and evil directs decision making

Ethical Egoism

Decisions are based on what is best for the individual making the decision

Intentional Tort

• Actions that damage client property or violate client rights

• False imprisonment, assault (threat of harm), battery (actually harming)

Negligence

• Failure to provide standard of care but is accidental

• Unintentional tort

Malpractice

• Knowingly failing to provide the standard of care and results in damage

• Unintentional tort