Ethical Principles Flashcards
What is ethics?
The study of moral conduct and behavior which serves to govern conduct, thereby protecting the rights of the individual
What are the 7 key ethical principles?**
- Nonmaleficence
- Utilitarianism
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Fidelity
- Veracity
- Autonomy
What is nonmaleficence?
The duty to “DO NO HARM”
What is utilitarianism?
The right act is the one that produces the greatest good to the most people
What is beneficience?
the duty to PREVENT harm and PROMOTE good
What is justice?
The duty to be fair
What is fidelity?
The duty to be faithful
What is veracity?
The duty to be truthful
What is autonomy?
The duty to respect an individuals thoughts and actions
If a patient wanted to withdraw from a patient’s care, what must the NP provide?
Notification
What are examples of discharging a patient from a practice?
- abuse from the patient
- refusal to pay for services
- patients’ persistence/non-adherence to recommended care
What are the steps to discharging a patient from a practice?
- Provide a certified letter with return receipt requested (copy for chart)
- Provide general healthcare coverage for the first 15-30 days post-termination deadline
- Obtain release of information to provide copies of all needed records for the subsequent care provider
What must the content of the certified letter contain?
General vs specific info.
The NP’s practice should have est policies that all pts consent to in writing such as recommended care, including time frames for canceling appts, rescheduling, and payment of services
*these may serve as a foundation for termination of healthcare
What are your obligations when closing a practice due to relocation/retirement/etc?
- Give pt adequate time to find another provider
- keep all files at a min of 5 YEARS (follow state law regarding storage requirements)
- Avoid complaints of patient abandonment by providing timely notification and names of other providers and resources for future care
