Common Violations Of Ethical Codes

4. . COMMON VIOLATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES

This concept was taken from module 5" ethics and laws", sub-topic 2" common violations of ethical codes-negligence, malpractice, incompetence etc.".

Ethical codes are formulated and used by organizations to its members understand what is right and what is made and help them also make decisions based on this knowledge. An ethical code generally implies documents at three levels: codes of business ethics, codes of conduct for employees, and codes of professional practice.

Code of professional practice are used by organizations to regulate professional conducts. Example, code of ethics for nurses is a code of professional practice which helps to regulate the conduct of nurses everywhere. Codes of business

The act consist of a threat of harm accompanied by an apparent, present ability to carry out the threat”.

Battery on the other hand is a “harmful or offensive touching of another”.

According to free dictionary by Farlex the main difference between battery and assault is “the existence or non-existence of a touching or contact. Contact is essential element of battery, while there must be absence of contact in assault”.

In nursing assault can be in a situation where the nurse verbally abuse a patient. Provided you cause a patient to have the fear that you will harm her it is assault. This could be in the harsh words used on the patient or wanting to hit the patient but actually did not.

Battery on the other hand is actually causing physical harm to a patient. Most assault end in battery as most times threats are followed by the actual act. Examples are punching a patient, kicking, slapping or punching a patient. Also a situation where a drug was forcefully given to a patient outside his wish is

It is a situation where an individual intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress to another person through, extreme or outrageous behavior or action.

To prove an intentional affliction of emotional distress four elements must be present such as, there must be a reckless on intentional act, the act must be extreme and outrageous, the act must be the cause of the emotional stress to the patient and finally there must be a severe emotional distress to the patient.

When a nurse intentionally behaves in a harsh way to a patient either physically or verbally it can cause emotional stress to the patient and relatives.

CLIENT ABANDONMENT: This is an inappropriate termination of services rendered to the client without the client’s consent or wish, of termination of relationship between the healthcare provider and the client without getting a replacement for continuity of care. A replacement here does not mean that the patient to continue the care is on their way, it means that you have to make appropriate provision for a replacement and ensure that the person arrives before