Discussion: Policy and State Boards of Nursing

NURS 8100 Week 6: Ethical and Legal Implications of Policy

NURS 8100 Week 6 Discussion: Individual Right Versus the Collective Good

Discussion: Individual Right Versus the Collective Good

Most of the recent successes in improving the public’4 s health have had to address the tension of individual rights versus the collective good. Anti-smoking campaigns and laws banning smoking in public places protect people from the negative health effects of second-hand smoke, yet some believe that they infringe on the individual rights of those who choose to smoke. Requiring childhood immunizations has helped prevent diseases such as polio and measles, but some parents assert that they have the right to decide if being immunized is in the best interest of their children.

This tension also exists in the allocation of scarce resources, from providing adequate staff coverage to making decisions about the amount of health care to provide. Given the nurse’s involvement in policy and health care delivery, it is important to understand the dynamics of this tension, as well as the legal and ethical implications.

To prepare for Discussion: Individual Right Versus the Collective Good:

• When have you encountered a tension between the individual right and the collective good in your nursing practice?
• With information from the Learning Resources in mind, consider relatively recent examples of health care policy that demonstrate this tension. For this Discussion, select one example of timely health care policy that allows you to evaluate the tension between individual rights and the collective good. Conduct additional research as necessary using credible websites and the Walden Library.

By Day 3 of Discussion: Individual Right Versus the Collective Good

Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:

• In the first line of your posting, identify a health care policy.
• Explain the tension between individual rights and the collective good.
• Analyze the ethical and legal considerations of the policy.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 6 of Discussion: Individual Right Versus the Collective Good

Respond to at least two of your colleagues posting adding to the discussion of the tension and legal and ethical considerations (beneficence, malfeasance, autonomy, and justice).

Note: Please see the Syllabus and Discussion Rubric for formal Discussion question posting and response evaluation criteria.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources. Discussion: Individual Right Versus the Collective Good