AMENDED CODE OF ETHICS FOR NURSES

 Section 3 Republic Act No. 877 known as the Philippine Nursing Law and Section 6 of P.D
No. 223 the amended Code of Ethics of Nurses
 Article I
o Preamble- health is a fundamental right of every individual
 Article II
o Values, customs and spiritual beliefs held by individual shall be represented
o Consider the individuality and totality of patients when they administer care
 Article III
o Human life is inviolable
o Quality and excellence in the care of patients are the goals of the nursing
practice
o Accurate documentation of actions and outcomes of delivered care is the
hallmark of nursing accountability
 Article IV
o The registered nurse is in solidarity with other members of the healthcare team
in working for the patient’s best interest
 Article V
o Preservation of life, respect for human rights and promotion of healthy
environment
o Promotion in local, national, and international efforts to meet health and social
needs of the people
 Article VI
o Maintenance of loyalty to the nursing profession and preservation of its integrity
are ideal
 Article VII
o The certification of registration of the registered nurse shall either be revoked or
suspended for violation of any provisions of this code.

DEFINITION AND MEANING OF LAW

 The sum total of rules and regulations by which society is governed

 Man mad regulates social conduct in a formal and binding way
 Rule of conduct pronounced by controlling authority and which may be enforced
o Authority or right to declare that the rule exists
o Rule is pronounced or expressed
o Source can be defined
o A right to enforce the same must be provided
 Controlling authority in our system is the government
o Laws and Legislation define the scope of acceptable practice and protect
individual rights.
 Fundaments law of the government
o A system of fundamental laws or principles that governs a nation, society,
corporation or another aggregate of individuals
o Its primary purpose is to establish the basis of a governing system for the future
and the present
o The government establishes the general organization of the federal government
which grants and limits its specific powers
 Principal sources of pronouncements
o Constitution
 System of fundamental laws or principles
 Supreme law of a country
 Creates legal rights and responsibilities and a foundation of a system of
justice
o Statutes or legislations
 Enacted by any legislative body
 The regulation of nursing is a function of state law
 Laws that governs
 Must be voted on and passed
o Executive branch/ Administrative agencies
 Create rules and regulations that enforce statutory laws
 Ex. Board of nursing
o Case decision/judicial opinions
 Laws evolving from court decision
 Interpreting and applying the constitutional or statutory law
 Legal issues that are in dispute
o Presidential decrees
o Letters of instructions
 Types of Laws and Courts
o Most nurses worry primarily about being sued for malpractice, they may be
involved in 3 different types of court cases:
 Public Law
 Criminal Law
o Defines crimes, treats of nature and provides for their
punishment