Nurses And The Ethical Dilemmas They Face
Malpractice By Nurses And The Ethical Dilemmas They Face
Lisa Hayes
ITT Technical Institute
Composition I GE 117
Ju1y 1, 2014
Outline
1. Thesis Statement
2. Introduction
3. Data on the malpractice lawsuits against nurses
4. Reasons for increase in lawsuits against nurses
5. Factors proving breach of law by the nurses
6. Healthcare Ethics
7. Ethical dilemmas faced by the nurses
8. The other side of the argument: Nurses make far less errors than other medical practitioners
9. Conclusion
Thesis Statement In recent years, the issues of malpractice in medicine has been significantly increased and many patients have to suffer. But how much is the nurses to be blamed for malpractice? The job of nurses is as significant as that of …show more content…
According to National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), the figure increased from 253 in 1998 to 413 by 2001.The number increased despite the proper training of the nurses to make them aware of their professional and legal responsibilities and boundaries. A nurse can be rightfully charged with negligence if his/her actions have caused harm to the patient, and this should eventually lead to a malpractice lawsuit against the nurse. (Croke, 2003)
Data On The Malpractice Lawsuites Against Nurses
In 1990, the NPDB started collecting information on health care practitioners subjected to malpractice lawsuits and had legal actions taken against them, like probation or license being taken back or monetary fines. According to the date collected, the registered nurses have been responsible for 3615 payments for malpractice (as shown by cases from 1990-2001). The non-specialized nurses made the most malpractice payments (2,311 or 63.9%), the nurse anesthetists made 820 (or 22.7%), and nurse midwives made 296 (or 8.2%). Nurse practitioners made the lowest malpractice payments- (188 or 5.2%). (Croke, 2003)
Reasons For Increase In Lawsuits Against …show more content…
Under beneficence, nurses must always put the patients’ best interest in top priority. In non-maleficence, nurses must avoid inflicting any kind of harm to the patient. Under autonomy, nurses should make sure patients are given free will and nothing is imposed on them against their will. Justice requires fair treatment for all patients without discrimination. Nurses need to put aside their personal values and comply with professional moral code. The American Nurses Association Board of Directors and the Congress, initiated a program called the Code of Ethics for Nurses in 1985 (updated in 2001), to outline the code of ethics and responsibilities of the nurses. Nurses are supposed to comply with the standard of ethical guidelines. (The National Commission on Correctional Health Care,
Lisa Hayes
ITT Technical Institute
Composition I GE 117
Ju1y 1, 2014
Outline
1. Thesis Statement
2. Introduction
3. Data on the malpractice lawsuits against nurses
4. Reasons for increase in lawsuits against nurses
5. Factors proving breach of law by the nurses
6. Healthcare Ethics
7. Ethical dilemmas faced by the nurses
8. The other side of the argument: Nurses make far less errors than other medical practitioners
9. Conclusion
Thesis Statement In recent years, the issues of malpractice in medicine has been significantly increased and many patients have to suffer. But how much is the nurses to be blamed for malpractice? The job of nurses is as significant as that of …show more content…
According to National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), the figure increased from 253 in 1998 to 413 by 2001.The number increased despite the proper training of the nurses to make them aware of their professional and legal responsibilities and boundaries. A nurse can be rightfully charged with negligence if his/her actions have caused harm to the patient, and this should eventually lead to a malpractice lawsuit against the nurse. (Croke, 2003)
Data On The Malpractice Lawsuites Against Nurses
In 1990, the NPDB started collecting information on health care practitioners subjected to malpractice lawsuits and had legal actions taken against them, like probation or license being taken back or monetary fines. According to the date collected, the registered nurses have been responsible for 3615 payments for malpractice (as shown by cases from 1990-2001). The non-specialized nurses made the most malpractice payments (2,311 or 63.9%), the nurse anesthetists made 820 (or 22.7%), and nurse midwives made 296 (or 8.2%). Nurse practitioners made the lowest malpractice payments- (188 or 5.2%). (Croke, 2003)
Reasons For Increase In Lawsuits Against …show more content…
Under beneficence, nurses must always put the patients’ best interest in top priority. In non-maleficence, nurses must avoid inflicting any kind of harm to the patient. Under autonomy, nurses should make sure patients are given free will and nothing is imposed on them against their will. Justice requires fair treatment for all patients without discrimination. Nurses need to put aside their personal values and comply with professional moral code. The American Nurses Association Board of Directors and the Congress, initiated a program called the Code of Ethics for Nurses in 1985 (updated in 2001), to outline the code of ethics and responsibilities of the nurses. Nurses are supposed to comply with the standard of ethical guidelines. (The National Commission on Correctional Health Care,