Autonomy and care: acting in a person's best interests

In previous articles, I have examined certain principles of human behaviour that inform the common law, and thus our nursing practice. We have determined that we do in fact owe those we care for, a duty of care. This duty in its widest sense is a duty not to cause harm. In the second article I reviewed the concept of risk assessment; how we act so as to avoid causing harms or allowing harms to occur, by undertaking an assessment of risk, prior to any events that could occur. And lastly, I examined how we as professionals, need to indemnify our practice so as to ensure that should things go wrong, those harmed can, at the very least, obtain funds to assist with recovery of health.