The ED environment
The ED environment can, at times become very intense, especially during emergency periods. Such intensity could bring about the strain of both human and hospital resources when it comes to the provision of healthcare services to patients. It might bring about various legal and ethical issues surrounding aspects such as to conduct or even medical procedures being administered to patients by both the emergency department nurses and physicians. One of the legal issues that could arise when it comes to ED environments is problems relating to the informed consent of the patient. In most instances, patients are supposed to have all the relevant information being given to them by the nurse and physician when it comes to their treatment procedure. If a patient understands the diagnosis and proposed treatment, then they are meant to agree to an informed consent document, either by signing it or agreeing verbally to the consent.
However, if it is seen that a doctor performs any kind of treatment procedure on any patient, who for an instant did not consent to such, then there might be legal issues surrounding the process. Lack of patient consent can occur because of reasons such as an altered mental state from any medication administered. It will raise multiple questions such as if the mental state of the patient was altered or not, or if the physician or nurse did note the patient’s understanding of the diagnosis and procedure. Other legal aspects, such as obtaining the consented signature from the patient, would also be integral in understanding whether there was any form of negligence or contempt in providing such treatment procedures. Other legal issues that may occur in an emergency department would include involuntary hospitalization of an agitated patient. Different emergency departments in various state hospitals have different rules on involuntary hospitalization. They would have to consider factors such as authority, or even the potential harm a patient has on themselves and others in addressing such an issue.
There were also ethical issues that would occur in such a setting. Most ethical issues revolve around whether or not an emergency nurse or physician should let a patient leave the ED even after suggesting that they are admitted. In the United States, when patients access any emergency department services, they are entitled to the right of emergency stabilization, despite their age, belief or even gender. It is stated under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active labour Act (EMTALA). Physicians can perform assessment and stabilize any patient before transferring them to a specialized treatment plan or even discharge them. It portrays the aspect of beneficence and non-maleficence when it comes to the nurses and doctors roles as healthcare providers.