The Four Foundational Pillars of Ethics in Nursing & Medicine
Autonomy
Through Informed Consent and The Right To Choose, individuals are given all relevant information required to make their own personal decision on whether or not to proceed with treatment, free from coercion.
Beneficence
The obligation to do good by the act of kindness and charity.
Non-Maleficence
The absence of an intent to harm, along with taking steps to minimize and avoid risk when giving treatment.
Justice
Making impartial and fair decisions when interacting with those in need who have differing values or beliefs. This does not infer doing something that violates ones own integrity, values, or beliefs.
I value these principles.
I believe it is important to express these pillars here, so that the likelihood of them being exercised rather than ignored is encouraged.
It is my hope that the everyday person will know the value of these ethical pillars, and stand upon them for the sake of generations to come, if and when necessary.
In Good ConSCIENCE,
Neil