Code of ethics and the phenomenon of persistent therapy in the work of a nurse

Abstract

Introduction. The Code of Nursing Ethics is a moral guide to professional conduct. It presents the actions and attitudes that nurses should present towards the patient, co-workers and professional practice. The standards contained in the Code of Professional Ethics help in solving moral dilemmas that arise during everyday professional work. Ethical dilemmas include: the phenomenon of persistent therapy. This term means the use of medical procedures and treatments disproportionate to the intended goals of therapy.

The aim. The aim of the study was to find out the opinions of nurses on the impact of ethics on decisions made in the case of persistent therapy.

Materials and methods. The respondents confirmed the occurrence of the phenomenon of persistent therapy applied to patients. The implementation of the principles of the Code of Nursing Ethics in the discussed aspect encounters a number of difficulties. The knowledge of the code of professional ethics was assessed by the nurses as very good, 90% of the respondents encountered the phenomenon of persistent therapy. A group of ¾ of the respondents correctly defines the term persistent therapy.

Results. The respondents confirmed the occurrence of the phenomenon of persistent therapy applied to patients. The implementation of the principles of the Code of Nursing Ethics in the discussed aspect encounters a number of difficulties. The knowledge of the code of professional ethics was assessed by the nurses as very good, 90% of the respondents encountered the phenomenon of persistent therapy.

Conclusions. The latest medical achievements allow for long-term, artificial life support, but this is not always in line with the teachings of ethics. The line between fighting for life and prolonging agony is slowly disappearing. Nurses in their work encounter situations where the borderline of therapy that brings a positive therapeutic effect is crossed, and actions aimed at persistent therapy. Pressure from the patient's family was one of the factors leading to the decision to conduct futile therapy by the medical staff.