ABSTRACT
A myriad of ethical, legal, and medical issues face all healthcare practitioners providing direct patient care. This chapter gives a quick review of ethical principles, the deliberative process in ethical decision making, and legal precedents and emerging legal issues. Other topics discussed include acting with integrity through knowing the patient, the cultural and religious aspects to show respect, and promoting an ethical climate within your organizations. The fundamentals of ethical care are best described in the Code of Ethics for each profession, which started with the Hippocratic Oath for medicine. Many of the professional associations also have written position papers to assist professionals in dealing with ethical/legal issues of patient care. Key references include the Position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA): Ethical and Legal Issues in Nutrition, Hydration, and Feeding (ADA Position 2008) and the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Ethics Position Paper published in December 2010 (ASPEN Position 2010).
