1. THE MORAL ISSUE OF
JOFRED M. MARTINEZ, RN
CHAPTER 10

2. No man is an island.

3. The moral and inviolable power vested in him as a
person to do, hold, or demand something as his own.

4. Every right in one individual involves a corresponding
duty in others to respect this right and not violate it.

5. RIGHT TO INFORMED CONSENT
Informed consent refers to the knowledge or
information about and the consent to particular
form of medical treatment.

6. RIGHT TO INFORMED DECISION
Informed decision refers to the necessary
information of and decision on a medical
treatment before and latter is carried out.

7. RIGHT TO INFORMED CHOICE
Informed choice refers to the necessary information
a patient should know about a medical treatment
or experiment so that a moral choice can be made.

8. INFORMED CONSENT
the information and agreement or disagreement
INFORMED DECISION
the information and the decision made
INFORMED CHOICE
the information and choice taken from
among several alternatives

9. COMPETENCE
One is considered competent when:
• one has made a decision
• one has the capacity to justify one’s choice
• one does not only justify one’s choice but does
so in a reasonable manner

10. DISCLOSURE
The disclosure information must be conducted in
such a way that the patient understands the whole
process and is aware of the possible
outcomes of his/her moral choice.

11. COMPREHENSION
If the patient does not understand what he/she
has been told, then information has not
been relayed at all.

12. VOLUNTARINESS
The patient must make a choice without being
unduly pressured by anyone else.

13. RIGHT TO REFUSAL OF TREATMENT
The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the
extent permitted by law and to be informed of the
medical consequences of his action.
Patient’s Bill of Rights
Invasion of a person’s body without valid consent is
an assault, and is subjected to legal sanctions.

14. • Patients’ rights do not include the right to be allowed
to die.
• A patient in a moribund condition does not possess
the necessary mental or emotional stability to make
an informed choice.
• Patient’s rights are not absolute.

15. In emergency cases, the following types of patients
need not require informed consent:
• comatose or obtunded patients
• blind or illiterate patients
• under aged patients or those unable to
understand the circumstances
• language-barrier patients

16. 1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful
care.
2. The patient has the right to and is encouraged to
obtain from physicians and other direct caregivers
relevant, current, and understandable information
concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
3. The patient has the right to make decisions about the
plan of care prior to and during the course of
treatment and to refuse a recommended treatment or
plan of care to the extent permitted by law and
hospital policy and to be informed of the medical
consequences of this action.

17. 4. The patient has the right to have an advance
directive concerning treatment or designating a
surrogate decision maker with the expectation that
the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to
the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.
5. The patient has the right to every consideration of
privacy. Case discussion, consultation,
examination, and treatment should be conducted
so as to protect each patient's privacy.

18. 6. The patient has the right to expect that all
communications and records pertaining to his/her
care will be treated as confidential by the hospital,
except in cases such as suspected abuse and
public health hazards when reporting is permitted
or required by law. The patient has the right to
expect that the hospital will emphasize the
confidentiality of this information when it releases it
to any other parties entitled to review information
in these records.

19. 7. The patient has the right to review the records
pertaining to his/her medical care and to have the
information explained or interpreted as necessary,
except when restricted by law.
8. The patient has the right to ask and be informed of
the existence of business relationships among the
hospital, educational institutions, other health care
providers, or payers that may influence the
patient's treatment and care.

20. 9. The patient has the right to expect that, within its
capacity and policies, a hospital will make
reasonable response to the request of a patient for
appropriate and medically indicated care and
services.
10.The patient has the right to consent to or decline to
participate in proposed research studies or human
experimentation affecting care and treatment or
requiring direct patient involvement, and to have
those studies fully explained prior to consent.

21. 11.The patient has the right to expect reasonable
continuity of care when appropriate and to be
informed by physicians and other caregivers of
available and realistic patient care options when
hospital care is no longer appropriate.
12.The patient has the right to be informed of hospital
policies and practices that relate to patient care,
treatment, and responsibilities.

22. NATURAL LAW ETHICS
Should a patient decide to give his/her consent, it
must be given freely and not the consequence of
intimidation, deception or coercion.

23. KANT’S ETHICAL PRINCIPLE
We must always be treated as ends and never
only as means, patients must not be deceived
by their physicians, no matter how good
their intentions may be.

24. UTILITARIANISM PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
Healthcare professionals are required to design
medical treatment in a way that minimizes
suffering and harm.

25. RAWLS’S PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE
Medical treatments and experiments are not allowed
that violates freedom which a patient is entitled to by
virtue of being a member of society.

26. We hold theses truths to be self evident, that all men
are created equal; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among
these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Thomas Jefferson