The nurse is providing care for a patient who demands discharge from the hospital against the physician's orders. In order to remove liability from the institution and the physician, the nurse has the patient review and sign the:

Question

a. Against Medical Advice form.
b. Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct.
c. Nursing Code of Ethics.
d. Informed consent form.

Answer 1

ANS: A
Preventing patients from leaving a health care facility at their request may be considered false imprisonment. To prevent health care providers and institutions from being held liable if a patient chooses to leave a facility when physicians and nurses think that it is in the patient's best interest to remain hospitalized, the patient is asked to sign an against medical advice (AMA) form. A signed AMA form documents that the patient has chosen to leave the facility when leaving could jeopardize the patient's condition. The National Student Nurses Association adopted the Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct, in which students agree to "promote the highest level of moral and ethical principles" and "promote an environment that respects human rights, values, and choice of cultural and spiritual beliefs." The Code of Ethics for Nurses is "a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties of every individual who enters the nursing profession." Informed consent is permission granted by a patient after discussing each of the following topics with the physician, surgeon, or advanced practice nurse who will perform the surgery or procedure: (1) exact details of the treatment, (2) necessity of the treatment, (3) all known benefits and risks involved, (4) available alternatives, and (5) risks of treatment refusal.