Module 2

Ethico-Moral and Legal Foundations of Client Education

Ethics

The guiding principles of behavour.

Ethical

These are the norms or standards of behavior accepted by society to which a person belongs

Ethical Dilemmas

Specific type of moral conflict in which two or more ethical principles apply but support mutually inconsistent course of action.

Morality

Expressed through a person’s behavior

Moral Values

An internal belief system which a person believes to be right

Ethical Codes

These are systematic guides for developing behavior. It represents an articulation of nine provisions for professional values and moral obligations with respect to nurse-patient relationship.

Service to Others

Implies a commitment to a life of sacrifice and genuine selflessness in carrying out their professional duties even at the expense of a personal gain.

Integrity and Objectivity

Professionals should perform their responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity and imbued with nationalism and spiritual values, maintain objectivity, be free of conflicts of interest, refrain from engaging in any activity that would prejudice their abilities to ethically carry out their duties.

Professional Competence

A certain level of competence is necessary, undertaking only those professional services that they can deliver.

Solidarity and Teamwork

Each professional shall maintain and support one professional organization for all its members, promoting a deep spirit of solidarity and teamwork.

Social and Civic Responsibility

Professional shall always carry out their professional duties with due consideration of the broader interest of the public, serve them with professional concern consistent with their responsibilities to society and as Filipinos, contribute to the attainment of the country’s national objective.

Global Competitiveness

Professionals shall remain open to the challenge of a more dynamic and interconnected world, rise up to global standards and maintain levels or professional practices fully with the global practices.

Equality of All Professions

All professionals shall treat their colleagues with respect and strive to be fair in their dealings with one another.

Patient’s Bill of Rights

A statement of the rights to which patients are entitled as recipients of medical care were created and has been framed and posted in every health care facility.

13 Patient’s Bill of Rights

1. Right to appropriate medical care and humane treatment.
2. Right to informed consent
3. Right to privacy and confidentiality
4. Right to information
5. Right to choose a healthcare provider and facility
6. Right to self-determination
7. Right to religious belief
8. Right to medical records
9. Right to leave
10. Right to refuse
11. Right to correspondence and to receive visitors
12. Right to expressive grievances
13. Right to be informed of their rights and obligations as a patient

Autonomy

Right to self-determination

Veracity

Truth telling, linked to informed decision0making and informed consent

Confidentiality

Personal info that is entrusted and protected as privileged info via social contract, health care standard or code or legal covenant.

Anonymous

It pertains to a situation when researchers are unable to link any subject’s identity in the medical record of that person.

Confidential

It pertains to a situation when identifying materials appear on subject’s records but can be accessed only by the researchers.

Nonmaleficence

It is defined as do no harm. It also refers to the ethics of legal determination involving negligence and/or malpractice.

Beneficence

It is defined as doing good for the benefit of others.

Justice

It speaks to fairness and the equitable distribution of goods and services.