Mental Health Chapter 3
53 flashcards · Other · by Carole Sneed
Values are personal beliefs about what is important and desirable.
Values clarification is a process of self-exploration through which individuals identify and rank their own personal values
A right is defined as "a valid, legally recognized claim or entitlement, encompassing both freedom from government interference or discriminatory treatment and an entitlement to a benefit or service"
A legal right is one on which the society has agreed and formalized into law.
An ethical theory is a moral principle or a set of moral principles that can be used in assessing what is morally right or morally wrong
The basis of utilitarianism is "the greatest-happiness principle."
The good is happiness and the right is that which promotes the good. Conversely, the wrongness of an action is determined by its tendency to bring about unhappiness.
An ethical decision based on the utilitarian view looks at the end results of the decision.
Kantianism is the ethical stance that argues that it is not the consequences or end results that make an action right or wrong; rather it is the principle or motivation on which the action is based that is the morally decisive factor.
Directly opposed to utilitarianism. Made out of respect for moral law.
Deontology takes the stance that our actions are bound by a sense of duty.
from the Greek word deon, which means "that which is binding; duty"
The imperative demand of Christian ethics is that all decisions about right and wrong should be centered in love for God and in treating others with the same respect and dignity with which we would expect to be treated. NaturalL
This approach to ethical decision-making is focused on the way of life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Natural law theory advances the idea that decisions about right versus wrong are self-evident and determined by human nature.
Based on the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas; The theory espouses that, as rational human beings, we inherently know the difference between good and evil (believed to be knowledge that is given to man from God), and this knowledge directs our decision-making.
Ethical egoism espouses that what is right and good is what is best for the individual making the decision.
An individual's actions are determined by what is to his or her own advantage.
An ethical dilemma is a situation that requires an individual to make a choice between two equally unfavorable alternatives.
The principle of autonomy emphasizes the status of persons as autonomous moral agents whose right to determine their destinies should always be respected.
Presumes that individuals are always capable of making independent choices for themselves. Healthcare workers know this is not always the case. Children, comatose individuals, and people with serious mental illness are examples of clients who are incapable of making informed choices. In these instances, a representative of the individual is usually asked to intervene and give consent.
Beneficence refers to one's duty to benefit or promote the good of others.
Describes health-care workers who act in their clients' interests, provided their actions really do serve the client's best interest.
The term advocacy means acting in another's behalf being a supporter or defender.
This means helping clients fulfill needs that, without assistance and because of their illness, may go unfulfilled.
Nonmaleficence is the requirement that health-care providers do no harm to their clients, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Some philosophers suggest that this principle is more important than beneficence; that is, they support the notion that it is more important to avoid doing harm than it is to do good.
The basic premise of justice lies with the right of individuals to be treated equally regardless of race, sex, marital status, medical diagnosis, social standing, economic level, or religious belief
When applied to health care, this principle suggests that all resources within the society (including health-care services) ought to be distributed evenly without respect to socioeconomic status.
The principle of veracity refers to one's duty to always be truthful.
There are times when limitations must be placed on this principle, such as when the truth would knowingly produce harm or interfere with the recovery process.
Anyone who is admitted to a hospital has the right to treatment.
Legally, patients have the right to refuse treatment unless the treatment requires immediate intervention to prevent death or serious harm to the patient or another person
The treatment team must determine that three criteria be met to force medication without client consent. The client must exhibit behavior that is dangerous to self or others; the medication ordered by the physician must have a reasonable chance of providing help to the client; and clients who refuse medication must be judged incompetent to evaluate the benefits of the treatment in question.
The right to the least restrictive treatment alternative means that clients who can be adequately treated in an outpatient setting should not be hospitalized, and if they are hospitalized, they should not be sedated, restrained, or secluded unless other less restrictive measures were found to be unsuccessful.
Examples of least restrictive treatment measures include verbal interventions such as telling the client to calm down, diversion or redirection, or providing a PRN medication.
A statutory law is a law that has been enacted by a legislative body, such as a county or city council, state legislature, or the U.S. Congress.
An example is the nurse practice acts.
Common laws are derived from decisions made in previous cases. These laws apply to a body of principles that evolve from court decisions resolving various controversies.
An example might be how different states deal with a nurse's refusal to provide care for a specific client.
Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of unlawful acts: civil and criminal.
Civil law protects the private and property rights of individuals and businesses.
A tort is a violation of a civil law in which an individual has been wronged. One party asserts that wrongful conduct on the part of the other has caused harm, and the first party seeks compensation for harm suffered.
Examples of unintentional torts are malpractice and negligence actions.
An example of an intentional tort is the touching of another person without that person's consent.
In a contract action, one party asserts that the other party, in failing to fulfill an obligation, has breached the agreement, and either compensation or performance of the obligation is sought as remedy.
Criminal law provides protection from conduct deemed injurious to the public welfare.
An example is the theft by a hospital employee of supplies or drugs.
Under HIPAA, individuals have the rights to access their medical records, to have corrections made to their medical records, and to decide with whom their medical information may be shared.
PHI is individually identifiable health information indicators that "relate to past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of the individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual.
Pertinent medical information may be released without consent in a life-threatening situation.
The doctrine of privileged communication grants certain professionals privileges under which they may refuse to reveal information about, and communications with, clients.
In most states, this doctrine applies to psychiatrists and attorneys; in some instances, psychologists, clergy, and nurses are also included.
The duty to warn acknowledges that the confidential character of patient-psychotherapist communications must yield to the extent that disclosure is essential to avert danger to others.
When a certain set of guidelines apply to a specific situation, it is reasonable for the therapist to notify the victim, law enforcement authorities, and/ or relatives of the intended victim.
The duty to protect states that, under certain circumstances, a therapist might be required to warn an individual, notify police, or take whatever steps are necessary to protect the intended victim from harm.
The therapist may consider initiating voluntary or involuntary commitment of the client in an effort to prevent potential violence.
Every state requires that health-care professionals - and in many jurisdictions, every citizen - report suspicion of child abuse to legal authorities.
Many jurisdictions also have statutes requiring that suspected elder abuse or neglect be reported.
The rationale for the doctrine of informed consent is the preservation and protection of individual autonomy in determining what will and will not happen to the person's body.
A health-care provider can be charged with assault and battery for providing life-sustaining treatment to a client when the client has not agreed to it
The nurse acts as client advocate ensuring that the following three major elements of informed consent have been addressed: knowledge, competency and free will.
Seclusion is another type of physical restraint in which the client is confined alone in a room from which he or she is unable to leave.
Seclusion or restraint is discontinued at the earliest possible time regardless of when the order is scheduled to expire.
Unless state law is more restrictive, orders for restraint or seclusion must be renewed every 4 hours for adults ages 18 and older, every 2 hours for children and adolescents ages 9 to 17, and every 1 hour for children younger than 9 years. Orders may be renewed according to these time limits for a maximum of 24 consecutive hours.
An in-person evaluation (by a physician, clinical psychologist, or other licensed independent practitioner responsible for the care of the patient) must be conducted within 1 hour of initiating restraint or seclusion.
Patients who are simultaneously restrained and secluded must be continuously monitored by trained staff, either in person or through audio or video equipment positioned near the patient.
Staff who are involved in restraining and secluding patients are trained to monitor the physical and psychological well-being of the patient
False imprisonment is the deliberate and unauthorized confinement of a person within fixed limits by the use of verbal or physical means.
To be admitted voluntarily, an individual makes direct application to the institution for services and may stay as long as treatment is deemed necessary.