Authors

Jesús Molina Mula

Position

Diplomado en Enfermería. Profesor colaborador de la Universidad de las Islas Baleares. Profesor de ética y legislación. 

Contact address

Universidad de las Islas Baleares. Sede de Ibiza y Formentera. Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. C/ Bes, 9. 07800 Ibiza.

Contact email: jesus.molina@uib.es

Abstract

In today´s professional practice there are, among others, a set of ethical and legal problems that make reference to the right to confidentiality and patient information, rights from which the informed consent form and professional secret have evolved. Because of this, it is necessary to continue giving some thought to the importance of respecting these rights and how we could contribute towards making these rights more effective so that nursing practice is regarded to be in accordance with currently observed ethic standards and legalities. One should not forget that up until a few years ago, the medical community represented a hegemonic power in the eyes of public health users; whereas now, it has become a safe means to provide the patient, the family and the community with autonomy, and to ensure the patient’s capacity to take an active part in their own decisions when faced with the possible alternatives of primary care, and consequently, and by default, the nursing care the patient is to receive. In this context, it is necessary to carry out bioethical analysis on the conflict arising from the nursing professional practice. Even though, it may prove to be a hard task, assuming such responsibility as fundamental, will facilitate the taking of ethical decisions.

Keywords:

Bioethics; nursing; rights; Deontological Code; informed consentprofessional secret

Versión en Español

Título:

El derecho a la confidencialidad y los cuidados de Enfermería