Patient Rights in Treatment Decisions Quiz

Patient's Rights

• Patients have the right to discuss and request information about their treatment, including procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• Patients have the right to make decisions about their care prior to and during treatment, and to refuse treatment as permitted by law and hospital policy.
• Patients have the right to create an advance directive, such as a living will or healthcare proxy, and expect the hospital to honor it.

Confidentiality and Privacy

• Patients have the right to expect that their medical records and communications will be kept confidential.
• Patients have the right to review their medical records and have them explained or interpreted as necessary.

Professional Ethics

Veracity (Truthfulness)

• Nurses have an obligation to tell the truth and not deceive others.
• Examples of veracity in practice include admitting mistakes promptly, offering to correct them, and refusing to participate in fraud.

Confidentiality

• Nurses have a duty to keep private or secret information confidential, unless the client consents to disclosure.

Justice

• Justice involves fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment of all individuals.
• There are multiple principles of justice, including treating each person equally, according to need, merit, social contribution, or individual effort.

Fidelity (Faithfulness)

• Nurses have a duty to be faithful and keep promises, upholding the profession's code of ethics.
• Examples of fidelity in practice include honoring contracts and maintaining loyalty within the nurse-patient relationship.

Patient's Bill of Rights

• Patients have the right to considerate and respectful care.
• Nurses should not participate in immoral acts, such as abortion, even if a doctor commands it.

Ethical Principles

Autonomy

• Autonomy is the right to self-governance and make decisions without external control.
• Examples of autonomy in practice include obtaining consent for treatments, respecting patients' policies on advance directives, and maintaining physical privacy.

Beneficence (Doing Good)

• Beneficence is the duty to do good to others and maintain a balance between benefits and harms.
• Examples of beneficence in practice include providing equal caring attention to all patients, organ donations, and treating patients with respect and courtesy.

Nonmaleficence (Do No Harm)

• Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm and avoid deliberate harm to others.
• Examples of nonmaleficence in practice include avoiding harm as a consequence of doing good and refraining from experimental research that could cause harm.