Ethics, moral dilemmas, and the law

Ethics, Moral Dilemmas, and the Law in Nursing Ethics, Moral Dilemmas, and the Law in Nursing Regardless of the areas in which nurses do practice their nursing roles, they are faced with ethical dilemmas. Situations that require ethical decisions by the nurses most likely affect both the nurses and their patients. A dilemma is a problem that does not have a clear defined solution. However, principles of nursing classes offered to nurses equip them with tools for solving such issues. Ethical issues nurses’ faces include choosing between quality versus quantity of life, choice between pro-choice and pro-life situations. They are also faced by the dilemma of freedom versus control, telling the truth versus deception, the distribution of resources dilemma, plus the application of empirical knowledge versus personal beliefs (Guido, 2010). In applying any of these, nurses should do so to protect the lives of their patients and discharge their duties in an ethical manner.
(Koutoukidis, et al., 2013) states that understanding the law is a crucial integral of the nursing education. This is because there are legal issues that create a dilemma to the nursing fraternity. Nurses are faced with the problem of choosing to attend to their patients who could have been hurt in a crime and reporting them to the police. They also face the risk of the likelihood of breaking the law in the event of their working. They are required to honour their civil contract of service regardless of the situation. If they contravene any of these laws, a nurse risks being prosecuted.
Moral dilemma in nursing arises when a number of morally conflicting issues arise. A nurse who has respect for life and values its sanctity will have difficulties in termination an unwanted pregnancy, whether it is likely going to save the mother’s life or not. The nurse understands of the psychological torment or pain that the mother is likely to be going through, yet she cannot do what she considers to be morally bad. Such a nurse knows what morally is right, but institutional constrains render it impossible for her to institute the right thing (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2012).
References
Fitzpatrick, J. J., & Kazer, M. W. (2012). Encyclopedia of nursing research. New York: Springer Pub.
Guido, G. W. (2010). Legal & ethical issues in nursing. Boston: Pearson.
Koutoukidis, G., Stainton, K., Hughson, J., & Tabbner, A. R. (2013). Tabbners nursing care: Theory and practice. Chatswood, N. S. W: Churchill Livingstone.