Ethics, Law and Health Care - Assignment Example

However, there is only a female doctor in the hospital at the time and therefore Omar finds himself in a dilemma in deciding what to do. This case raises the issue of ethics in health care. The main ethical issue in the case is on whether it is ethically correct to disclose the patient’s information to his mother and the doctor without going against the rights of the patient (Sullivan, 2009). Identifying Issues The main problem in this situation is that failure to disclosure the patient’s information may mean that he will not receive prompt medical attention.

The other problem is to ensure that caregivers do not contravene the rights of the patient or the provisions of the Code of Ethics. Any action taken in this case should ensure that the involvement of the patient and his family (Curtin, 2004). Furthermore, the team of caregivers should also be involved in the action chosen. To address this dilemma, Omar should refer to the Code of Ethics that specifies all the ethical standards that nurses should adhere. The Code of Ethics also serves an indicator to the community on the standards on human rights and ethical values expected from nurses (Fleming, 2007).

The issues arising in this case are entrenched in an unwritten social contract between the public and healthcare givers. The family goes to the health care to receive treatment and care and health care givers are supposed to offer satisfactory care (Fleming, 2007). Evaluating the Issue The issues in the case of Omar and Tim touch on various areas discussed in the Code of Ethics (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008b). For one, the issue is based on the requirement to ensure that nurses offer quality care to all people.

Particularly, the nurse should recognize that all patients are entitled to quality care (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008b). According to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), Value statement 1(2): “Nurses recognize that people are entitled to quality nursing care and will strive to secure them the best available nursing care. In the pursuit of this aim, nurses are entitled to participate in decisions regarding a person’s nursing care and are obliged to question nursing care they regard as potentially unethical or illegal”.

Consequently, the nurse should ensure that Tim receives holistic care but in making decisions, it must be able to meet the threshold of being ethical and legal. The Code of Ethics also requires that nurses ensure that patients receive quality care from colleagues and therefore Omar has a duty to ensure that Tim receives quality treatment from the doctor. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), Value statement 1(3): “Nurses take steps to ensure that not only they, but also their colleagues, provide quality nursing care.

” The other issue arising in this case discussed in the Code of Ethics is the importance of respect and kindness to self and others. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), Value 2 (2): “Respect for people who are health consumers recognizes people who are health consumers recognize their capacity for active and informed participation in their own health. Nurses actively preserve dignity of the people through practiced kindness and recognizing the vulnerability and powerlessness of people in their care”.

The way Tim is handled at the hospital can have implications on his dignity and