Ethics, the health assessment interview, and the older patient

As a requirement for the first year nursing subject 'Health Assessment' at Flinders University of South Australia, the task was given of examining Ethics and how this relates to the health assessment interview. Due to the negative stereotypes of older people and the subsequent treatment of the older patient, focus is placed on this particular age group. A definition of Ethics is given, with further discussion relating specifically to autonomy, respect and justice. This paper is not intended to be a major dissertation on Ethics and the Four Principles, because at the time of writing this the author had not studied ethics. Instead, it is hoped that other nurses and nursing students may learn as much about the difficulties of the older patient as the author has herself, and examine possible prejudices towards patients of any age, particularly the vulnerable older patient.