Biomedical subjects

J A Erlen

Publications and source records attributed to J A Erlen.

57 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Everyday ethics.

While dramatic issues such as assisted suicide and genetic engineering raise unique ethical questions for health care professionals, they are not the typical ethical concerns that nurses face in their daily practice. The more usual ethical situation or "everyday ethics" occur during the regular interactions that nurses have with patients, their families, and other health care providers. Everyday ethics is central to nursing practice. Being attuned to this aspect of professional practice gives meaning and purpose to nursing care. Typical clinical examples provide the backdrop for the discussion of everyday ethics. Through increasing their knowledge of ethical theory and values, their sensitivity to ethical issues in daily practice, their ability to use critical thinking, and their communication skills, nurses will be better able to provide ethically appropriate care to their patients.

Communication↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The inadvertent breach of confidentiality.

Patients believe that personal information that they share with their health care providers will be kept strictly confidential. Safeguarding a confidence has been and continues to be an expected professional behavior. Yet, a common ethical problem that nurses face in their everyday practice is the inadvertent disclosure of private information about particular patients to individuals who have no need for this information. This article discusses the inadvertent breach of confidentiality and its related ethical concepts: privacy, respect for persons, trust and fidelity, and the potential for harm or injury. Recommendations are provided to enable nurses to avoid and manage situations that involve an inadvertent breach of confidentiality.

Confidentiality↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment decision making: who should decide?

Why is someone other than a competent adult patient considered to be the person to make important treatment decisions? Since one's values influence decision making, who other than the patient should make these significant decisions? The author argues that competent adult patients should make treatment decisions because of the moral nature of these decisions. Recommendations for facilitating the patient's active involvement include increasing one's understanding of values, autonomy, and decision making; identifying personal values; creating a supportive environment; educating patients about their role in decision making; and advocating for patient involvement in treatment decisions.

Adult↗