Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ethicolegal Issues in The Care of The Elderly
Ethicolegal Issues in The Care of The Elderly
Ethicolegal Issues in The Care of The Elderly
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Ethical And Legal Issues Concerning
the Elderly
Ethical Issues
1. Autonomy and Informed Consent: As with all patients, respecting the
autonomy of elderly individuals is crucial. Nurses should ensure that older
adults are provided with adequate information to make informed decisions
about their care, taking into account their cognitive abilities and any
potential cognitive decline.
2. Beneficence and Non-Maleficence: Nurses have a duty to promote the
well-being of their patients and to do no harm. Balancing the benefits of
medical interventions with potential risks, especially in cases of serious
illness or advanced age, can be ethically complex.
3. Dignity and Respect: Older adults deserve to be treated with dignity and
respect, regardless of their health status. Nurses should address them by
their preferred names and ensure their privacy and modesty are preserved
during care.
Ethical Issues (cont.)
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4. Quality of Life: Geriatric nurses often face decisions about treatments and
interventions that might extend life but could also impact the quality of that
life. Ethical considerations include understanding the patient's values and
preferences in relation to treatment options.
5. End-of-Life Care: Discussions about end-of-life care, including do-not-
resuscitate (DNR) orders and hospice care, require sensitivity and
consideration of the patient's wishes and cultural background.
6. Family Involvement: Family members often play a significant role in the
care of elderly patients. Ethical dilemmas can arise when patient wishes
conflict with family wishes. Geriatric nurses must navigate these situations
while ensuring patient autonomy is respected.
Legal Issues:
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1. Healthcare Proxy and Power of Attorney: Nurses must be aware of legal
documents such as healthcare proxies and power of attorney that designate
decision-makers for elderly patients who may be unable to make decisions
for themselves.
2. Capacity Assessment: Determining an individual's capacity to make
decisions is important for obtaining informed consent. Geriatric nurses may
be involved in assessing capacity and ensuring that decision-making is legally
valid.
3. Elder Abuse and Neglect: Nurses have a legal obligation to report suspected
cases of elder abuse or neglect, whether it's physical, emotional, or financial.
Failure to report could result in legal consequences.
4. Documentation: Accurate and thorough documentation is essential in
geriatric nursing to ensure legal accountability and to provide a clear record
10 of the care provided.
5. Advance Directives and Living Wills: Geriatric nurses should be familiar
with these legal documents that outline a patient's wishes regarding
medical treatment in case they become unable to communicate their
preferences.
6. Medication Management: Administering medications correctly and
documenting their administration is a legal responsibility. Elderly patients
often take multiple medications, increasing the risk of medication errors.
7. Privacy and Confidentiality: Just like with any patient, geriatric nurses
must adhere to strict privacy and confidentiality standards to protect the
personal and medical information of elderly patients.
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Professional Standards
12 ◈ Nursing standards of practice are measured
according to the expected level of
professional practice of those in similar roles
and clinical fields.
◈ A standard of care is a guideline for nursing
practice and establishes an expectation for the
nurse to provide safe, effective, and
appropriate care.
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◈ Professional standards describe the competent
level of care in each phase of the nursing
process.
◈ These standards are important to our
profession because they promote and guide
our clinical practice.
Salient Points
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◈ Philippine Professional Standards of Nursing
Practice
◈ Promulgation of Board of Nursing Code of
Ethics
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Nursing Practice Standard Domains
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◈ Medical Assistance in Dying: In cases where
individuals have a terminal illness, there can
be ethical dilemmas around offering medical
assistance in dying (MAID) as a means to end
their life on their terms.