PATIENT RIGHTS & ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS

ETHICS
a science dealing with the morality of human actions; it is set by a group/society on what is ought to be done.

ETHICAL CORE CONCEPTS

Respect for the individual and his or her autonomy Beneficence Non-maleficence Justice

PATIENT RIGHTS
Definition: It is a code of ethics that describes what the patient can expect from the health care enterprise and from that enterprises health care providers. Documents articulate specific responsibilities on the part of the patient so that maximum benefit can be received from the enterprise and from the care providers (American Hospital Association [AHA], 1992).

 History:
The concept of a Patients Bill of Rights grew out of a 1969 consumer movement demanding that more attention be given to the needs and perspectives of patients by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAHO), which is a private regulatory body. The document, adopted by the AHA in 1972 and published in 1973, was the initial step in the patients rights movement. The document was subsequently revised in 1992.

Nurses have a To health care that is accessible and that meets responsibility to professional standards, regardless of the setting. uphold the following rights of patients: To courteous and individualized health care that is

equitable, humane, and given without discrimination as to race, color, creed, sex, national origin, source of payment, or ethical or political beliefs.
To information about their diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment including alternatives to care and risks involved in terms they and their families can readily understand, so that they can give their informed consent.

 To informed participation in all decisions concerning their health care. To information about the qualifications, names, and titles of personnel responsible for providing their health care. To refuse observation by those not directly involved in their care.

 To privacy during interview, examination, and treatment. To privacy in communicating and visiting with people of their choice. To refuse treatment, medications, or participation in research and experimentation, without punitive action being taken against them. To coordination and continuity of health care.

 To appropriate instruction or education from health care personnel so that they can achieve an optimal level of wellness and an understanding of their basic health needs. To confidentiality of all records (except as otherwise provided for by law or third party payer contracts) and communications, written or oral, between patients and health care providers.

 To access to all health records pertaining to them, and the right to challenge and correct their records for accuracy, and the right to transfer all such records in the case of continuing care. To information on the charges for services, including the right to challenge these.

To be fully informed as to all their rights in all health care settings.

ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS
Is broader in scope than traditional codes of ethics that focus on a specific group of professionals within an organization.
Guide employees regarding ethical business behaviour standards and the obligations incumbent on an employee who becomes aware of infringements of the standards by fellow workers.

The Nurses Code of Ethics

The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems. The nurses primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.

 The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurses obligation to provide optimum patient care.

 The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.
The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving health care environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.

 The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development.
The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs. The profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, for maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice, and for shaping social policy.

Fin. Thank you for listening!