Case Study: Emily - Assessment 2

Case Study

Ethical values are important for registered nurses during their clinical practice. Ethics are knowns as the moral characteristics that direct how a person behaves during a situation (Thompson et al., 2016). Ethical values enable health professionals to identify healthcare dilemmas and make sound decisions based on the ethical values within the laws that govern them (McDermott-Levy et al., 2018b). The ethical issue that the nurse (Angela) is facing in the given scenario while addressing Mrs. White is maintaining confidentiality and privacy of the information given by Emily. Emily showed trust in Angela and told her that she had a boyfriend and she wants an emergency contraceptive pill. Emily also mentioned not to tell her mother about the pill and her boyfriend. While addressing Mrs. White if Angela tells about the medication then it would break the trust of Emily and affects the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship.

Ethical and Legal Principles

The ethical considerations in the given case scenario include autonomy, nonmaleficence, fidelity and veracity. Autonomy is known as the recognition of the rights of patients to make their own decision according to their values and believe (Both-Nwabuwe et al., 2020). In this case, Emily decided to go for an emergency contraceptive pill. Providing information and consulting doctors regarding the request of Emily assure autonomy to Emily. According to the first element of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) code of ethics for nurses, it comes under nurse’s ethics to respect the choice and decision of the patient and to provide sufficient and accurate information so that patient may take the clinical decision (International Council of Nurses, 2012). Nonmaleficence is the moral right of the patient which means no harm to the patient (Kumar & Pillai, 2015). The first element of the ICN Code of Ethics for nurses also describes that it is the moral duty of the health professional to provide safe treatment and maintain a safe environment for the patient (International Council of Nurses, 2012). Consulting the doctor for an emergency contraceptive pill shows provision to safe care and minimizing the harm to Emily. Another ethical consideration is fidelity. Fidelity is being the faithful or loyal to the patient who showed trust in the nurse (McDermott-Levy et al., 2018a). In this case, Emily showed trust in Angela and tell her about the emergency contraceptive pill and boyfriend. So, it is an ethical consideration for Angela to remain trustful and keep the information confidential and maintaining privacy. The first element of the ICN Code of Ethics for nurses also says to use the management system which keeps the confidentiality and instruct nurses to keep the privacy of the patients (International Council of Nurses, 2012). Veracity is known as being truthful, honest, and accurate in interactions with others (Amer, 2019). This can produce an ethical dilemma for Angela because while addressing to Mrs. White, Angela cannot show veracity as it will breach confidentiality and the privacy of Emily. 

Other than ethical consideration nurses have to consider legal principles during their clinical practice. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) regulates the clinical practice of nurses and midwifery in Australia. The Code of conduct is formulated by the NMBA to set out the legal requirement of the registered nurses during their clinical practice (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018). In the given case scenario, legal consideration includes decision making, informed consent, and confidentiality. According to principle 2 (person-centered practice) of NMBA's code of conduct for nurses, the decision making is the shared responsibility of the health care provider and the patient (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018). In this case scenario, Emily is 14-year-old and according to the legislation (NSW Health, 2018) Emily can take part in the decision making of her treatment. Another legal consideration for Angela is to take informed consent from the patient. Principle 2.3 of NMBA’s code of conduct shows that it is the right of the patient that healthcare providers take informed consent from the patient (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018). Moreover, evidence shows that Emily is 14-year-old and can give her consent for the emergency contraceptive pill (Australian Law Reform Commission, 2010). The most important legal consideration for this case scenario is confidentiality. Principle 3.5 (confidentiality and privacy) of NMBA's code of conduct says that nurses have a moral and legal responsibility to keep the personal and medical information of the patients confidential (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018).