Ethical Considerations
Ethics plays a major role in oncology nursing practice and the delivery of care to patients. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics (2001) established the groundwork for practice, which includes the following:
1. Practices with compassion and respect
4. Responsibility to individual nursing practice
5. Ownership of same duties to self as others
6. Establishes and maintains healthy environment
7. Advocates for professional practice, education, and administration
8. Collaborates to meet health care needs
ETHICAL THEORIES
• Utilitarian theory: Actions should produce the best consequences and produce happiness.
• Right approach: Respects and protects the rights of the individual
• Fairness and justice approach: Treats all patients as fair or in a just manner
• Common-good approach: Selective of the best alternative for the common good
• Care-based approach: The most responsive to individual needs
