What are the ethical and professional issues of this patient?
The nurse acted in an ethical matter to protect the rights of this patient. Before an invasive procedure can be performed, (unless it is an emergency) the patient has to give informed consent. That means he has to understand the risks and benefits of the procedure,and he has to be able to have any questions answered that he may have. If there is any language barrier the hospital is under legal obligation to ensure an interpreter is available to protect the patients right to “Informed Consent” before the procedure is performed. This matter of consent is extremely important for any patient, it protects the hospital from liability. Most important it protects the rights of every patient. Be happy that this nurse protected this ethnic patient, it is not only giving permission but it is also being able to understand what is going on and making an informed decision.
