Ethical legal issues in healthcare

The Act provides for a hierarchy of decision-makers which can be followed by the health care professional in choosing the person to decide on behalf of the patient if an advance directive does not exist. The other law that is important as it relates to the case study is the civil liability law. The Act relinquishes liability from harm due to inherent risks that occur such as unavoidable risks. Acts Relevant to The Case The Guardianship and Administration Act 1990 Act is relevant to Christine’s case as it is used in identifying the individual offer consent during the urgent need for treatment for Christine following the accident. In the case study, there is no indication of an existing advance directive which would provide a specific individual to make care decisions for Christine when incapacitated.

Ethical Issues The practice of nursing care is guided by existing ethical principles of justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. In the delivery of patient care, the code of conduct for nurses by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia requires nurses to act with honesty ad integrity in delivering care to the patients (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia). In the care for Jones, the ethical issue that I face in caring for the patient is balancing the requirement for honesty when caring for the patient and the principle of beneficence. The care for Jones requires that for her to provide consent for her intended surgery, that she is provided with correct information on her case which should include information on her pregnancy (Raus, Mortier & Eeckloo, 2018).

Providing her with information on her pregnancy may, however, alter her decision on the surgery. This information is essential to enable guide both the medical teams and the patient on the decisions to make in their surgery. Providing the information to the patient and educating her on the other risks that are possible in case she chose the surgery and allowing her to decide is essential. I will communicate the same information with the patient-caregiver teams and discuss the most feasible approach of care. Patient education is essential in enabling them to identify interventions in their care that are patient-centered (Skagerström, Ericsson, Nilsen, Ekstedt & Schildmeijer, 2017). The evidence-based information sharing with Jones and her mother will strengthen their ability to make an eventual decision on her care.