Nursing Law and Ethics

Contents

Preface to the First Edition x
Preface to the Second Edition xii
List of Contributors xiii

Part One: The Dimensions 1

1 The Legal Dimension: Legal System and Method 3

John Hodgson

1.1 The law and its interpretation 3

1.2 The English legal system 9

1.3 Legal method 13

1.4 The legal context of nursing 15

1.5 Notes and references 17

2 The Ethical Dimension: Nursing Practice, Nursing Philosophy

and Nursing Ethics 19

Alan Cribb

2.1 Promoting welfare and well-being 20

2.2 Respect for persons and respect for autonomy 22

2.3 Utilitarianism and the public interest 23

2.4 Principles of health care ethics 25

2.5 Philosophical ethics ± its value and limitations 26

2.6 Being a good nurse 28

2.7 Notes and references 29

3 The Professional Dimension: Professional Regulation in Nursing,

Midwifery and Health Visiting 31

Reg Pyne

3.1 The present nursing regulatory system summarised 32

3.2 Constitution of the UKCC 32

3.3 Regulating British medicine 35

3.4 Regulation of nursing ± the short term prospect 39