Ethics VS Law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics VS Law - Research Paper Example Ethics vs. Law Introduction Nurses at all levels and in all facets of specialization should comply with strict ethical guidelines and operates as per various governmental and regulatory statutes. Frequently, the interaction between ethics and law is complex; however, professional nursing ethics mainly followed within the confines of the law are highly likely to be legally defensible. Nurses may come across diverse dilemmas, legal or ethical in nature amid their practice; nevertheless, some of the nurses may not be prepared to respond to such issue and may end up helpless in the event that questions regarding their ethics or conduct are raised (Robley, 2009). A law represents a rule concisely laid down whereby any deviation from the set rule attracts punishment; however, ethics are not measurable and cannot be concisely defined like law. Ethics mainly depend on personal perception of issues and are complex to be outlined into right or wrong. A nurse most frequently comes into contact with the law via potential or imminent litigation in which the nurse may have engaged in, or observed in some action that led to the legal action (Timby, 2009). The nurse also encounters legal issues in the event that a disallowed act is perpetrated in the case of negligence and misconduct, which predisposes the nurse to criminal liability. Nurses encounter diverse situations on a day-to-day basis that may be classified as either ethically correct yet legally objectionable, or vice versa. Situations such as abortion, death, and euthanasia by their pure nature may place the nurse into a dilemma. Examples of situations that can be outlined as relating to nursing laws and ethics are numerous and diverse (Timby, 2009). One of the situations that could be arise details a nurse giving a patient the wrong medication, and subsequently failing report the incident or concealing the situation to safeguard himself from legal action. This situation raises pertinent questions centring on both eth ical and legal issues (Robley, 2009). The second situation that could be ethical rather than legal may entail permitting a client to smoke marijuana for medicinal reasons. Another situation that could emerge bordering legal and ethical boundary centres on forcing a patient to assume something, not in favour of his or her wishes or devoid of informed consent. Conflicts that may exist between Ethics and the law in Nursing Practice In arriving at professional decisions, nurses may be caught up between two conflicting sets of demands, one deriving from the mission of the profession and the other emanating from legal provisions. Nurses and other healthcare professional may become entangled in either civil or criminal justice systems such as when nurses incur criminal action by failing to renew nursing license in a timely manner (Timby, 2009). Other actions revolving around criminal law may encompass substance abuse, especially in cases where the nurse acquires medications un procedurally within clinical settings. Nurses should distinguish between law and morality since an action can be legal but