3. Legal Aspects in Nursing.pdf

Legal aspects nursing

1. Legal Aspects in Nursing
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 1

2. 2
Inlawamanisguiltywhenhe
violatestherightsofothers.In
ethicsheisguiltyifheonlythinks
ofdoingso.
-Immanuel Kant
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta

3. Medico-legalIssuesarethoseinwhichvictimwho
areseekingmedicalhelpbutarerelatedtolegal
issues.
Medico-legalissomethingthatinvolvesboth
medicalandlegalaspects.
Medico Legal Issues
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 3

4. TERMINOLOGIES
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 4

5. BILL
•Draftsortemporaryoutlineofwhattheactwillbe.
•VIDEYAKinNepali
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 5

6. •Awrittendocumentwhichhasbeenformallypassed
byGovernment.
•AinInNepali
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 6

7. LAW
•Definedasthesumtotalofrulesandregulationsby
whichasocietyisgoverned.Assuch,lawiscreated
bypeopleandexiststoregulateallpersons.
•Kanun
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 7

8. Constitution
•Itisasystemoflawsandprinciplesaccordingtowhicha
stateorotherorganizationisgoverned.
•Itindicateshowthegovernmentiscreatedandgiven
authority.
•Itstatestheprinciplesandprovisionsforestablishing
specificlawsi.e.constitutionallaws.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 8

9. •It involves all those cases where there is involvement of
law enforcement agencies like police, lawyer and court
of law besides the health care providers including nurse
to provide treatment and justiceto victim and
punishment to the culprit.
Cont.….Medico Legal Issues
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 9

10. •Legaleventgenerallyoccuralreadyoutsidethehospital
area.
•Victimwillcometohospitalforthepurposeof
investigationandtreatment.
•Theyshouldprovidespecialattentionwhilecaringand
documentation.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 10

11. Laws and Acts applicable in nursing practice
•NepalHealthServiceAct2053withsecondamendmentin2058
•MulukiAin(CivilCode)
•DrugsAdministrationAct
•NepalNursingCouncilAct
•ICN&NAN–codeforNurses
•ConsumersProtectionAct
•AbortionLaw
•OrganTransplantAct
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 11

12. 1.Deliberate self harm
2.Accidents
3.Criminal cases
Common Medico Legal cases
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 12

13. Deliberate self harm
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14. Accidents
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15. Criminal cases
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16. 1.All cases of injuries.
2.All cases of burn.
3.Alleged cases of assault.
4.All cases of suspected or evident of poisoning or intoxication.
5.Case referred from court.
6.Victims of Animal ferocity
6.Suspectedorevidentcriminalabortion.
7.Unconsciousorcomatosewherethecauseisnotnaturalorclear.
8.Broughtdead/deadonarrival/suddenunexpecteddeath
9.Casesofsuspectedself-inflictedinjuriesorattemptedsuicides.
Common Medico Legal Cases in Emergency
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 16

17. Common Medico Legal cases in BPKIHS
6
98
55
9
7
4
25
25
RapeRTAPhysical AssaultFall injuryHangingBurn InjuryPoisioning0thers
17

18. 1.Rapecases-5-7yearsofimprisonment.????
2.Attempttorape-2-3yearsofimprisonment.???
3.Murder-10-12yearsofimprisonment.???
4.Attempttomurder-5-8yearsofimprisonment.
5.Accident-ifonepossessdrivinglicense–35daysofimprisonment,if
not-11yearsofimprisonment.
LEGAL PROVISION IN NEPAL
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19. TERMINOLOGIES
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20. Alegal wrong committed against a person, his/her
rights or property, intentionally or willfully committed
without just cause.
The person who commits a tort is liable for damage in
civil.
TORT
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21. Unintentional
•Negligence:
•Malpractice
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 21

22. Omitting an action expected of a sensible person
in a particular circumstances is considered
negligence.
Negligence
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 22

23. Failure to maintain accepted ethical standard.
Any unreasonable lack of skills in professional
duties or illegal or immoral conduct that result in
injury. E.g.: Untrained nurse conducting
abortion.
Malpractice
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 23

24. 1.Assault
2.Battery
3.Crime
4.Defamation libel
5.Defamation slander
6.Crime
7.Euthanasia
8.Invasion of privacy
Intentional Tort
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 24

25. Assault:Assaultoccurswhenapersonputsanother
personinfearofharmoroffensivecontact.Thevictim
fearsandbelievesthatharmwillbecausedasaresult
ofthreat.
Battery:Anintentionaltouchingofanother’sbody
withoutother’sconsent.
Cont.…Intentional Tort.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 25

26. Defamation slander:Something untrue was said to ruin
the reputation of a person.
Defamation liable:Something untrue was written to
ruin the reputation of a person.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 26

27. Invasion of privacy:
Itisthereleaseofapatient’smedicalinformationtoan
unauthorizedpersonsuchasamemberofpress,the
patientsemployer,orthepatient’sfamily.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 27

28. Providesaframeworkforestablishingwhichnursing
actionsinthecareofclientarelegal.
Differentiatesthenurse’sresponsibilityfromthoseof
otherhealthprofessionals.
FUNCTION OF LAW (public and civil) IN NURSING
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 28

29. Establish the boundaries of independent nursing
actions.
Assists in maintaining a standard of nursing practice by
making nurses accountable under the law.
Cont.….Function of Law in Nursing
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 29

30. 1.Overlooked sponges, instruments and needles during surgery.
2.Burn with hot water bag.
3.Fall from bed.
4.Assault/ battery.
5.Failure to report and negligence.
6. Failure in close monitoring such as B.P., FHS.
7. Forced to do abortion.
8. Exchange of new born babies. (tags, m/f).
9. Handing over of dead body without postmortem.
10. Discharging MLC without informing police.
SOME LEGAL ISSUE IN NURSING PRACTICE
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 30
11. Failure to maintain
records of MLC.
12. Poor recording and
reporting ( GCS, DEATH).
13. Identification of patient
and parts.
14. Loss of client property.
15. Medication error or
wrong medication

31. 1.Overflow of patients.
2.Poor information system
3.Poor lab report
4.Inadequate supplies
5.Poor security and inadequate knowledge of MLC.
REASON FOR LEGAL PROBLEMS
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 31

32. LEGAL SAFEGUARD IN NURSING PRACTICE
1.Informed consent
2. Communication
3. Competence in practice
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 32

33. LEGAL SAFEGUARD……
4. Licensure
5. Patient education
6. Executing physician’s order
7. Documentation
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34. LEGAL SAFEGUARD……
8. Professional liability insurance
9. Good Samaritan law
10. Adequate staffing
11. Patient’s bill of rights
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35. LEGAL SAFEGUARD……
12. Licensure
13. Good rapport
14. Standards of care
15. Standing order
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36. LEGAL SAFEGUARD……
16. Don’t accept gifts
17. Don’t give legal advice
1.Correct identity
1.Maintenance of drugs
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 36

37. LEGAL PROCEEDING FOR MLC CASES IN BPKIHS
1.Registration in MLC record book as well as in admission book.
2.Put stamp of MLC in the document
3.Injury form filled in ER
4.Inform to the police.
5.Maintain confidentiality
6.Collectionofsamples.
7.2-3reportscollected.
8.Afterforensicexamination,reportcollectedandsenttocourt.
9.Identifiedasaccidentorintention.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 37
•10. If accident, no further
proceeding.
•11. If intention, proceeding as per
the law.
•12. Sent for postmortem if dead.
•13. Inform police during discharge

38. FOR ABANDONED OR LAWARIS DEAD BODY
1.Deadbodyiskeptinmortuaryfor35days
2.Inthatperiodpoliceinthatareaisreportedandinformation
disseminatedviamedia
3.Ifnooneclaimsforthatduration,thebodyishandedoverto
municipalityofficeforfuneral.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 38

39. IN CASE OF DISCHARGE OF MLC CASES
1.TheculpritaswellasvictimmaybeMLCcases.
2.Inculprit–takenunderthecontrolofthepoliceandsubmittedto
districtpoliceforfurtherproceeding.
3.Ifvictim-victimreportofeventstaken.
4.MLCcasesifdead-sentforpostmortem
5.AllMLCcasesregisteredinMLCbook
6.Accidentalcasesisopenfor2yearsforinvestigationthenthecaseis
closed.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 39

40. RECENT TRENDS IN MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS
1.Age estimation.
2.Dental identification.
3.Bite marks.
4.Photography
5.DNA analysis :-hair/ blood.
6.Crime evidence.
7.Forensic medicine/nursing.
8.Finger prints.
Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 40

41. Prof.Dr. RS Mehta 41