Ethical issues in oncology nursing practice: an overview of topics and strategies

An understanding of common principles of biomedical ethics provide healthcare professions with a common language. Developing a standard approach to complex ethical cases in clinical situations allows professionals to involve significant individuals and to ensure that appropriate factors are considered. This article presents a case in oncology nursing practice, using a sample model for decision making. The case is developed to demonstrate a number of issues that arise with regard to symptom management, the nurse-patient relationship, informed consent, end-of-life decisions, and truth-telling. Ethical dilemmas arising from conflicts within principles and between individuals holding differing ethical perspectives are described. Because a true ethical dilemma goes beyond a simple "right" or "wrong" answer, arguments based on differing moral grounds are presented. Nursing responsibilities are delineated and directions are provided for furthering one's understanding of ethics.