Question

A nurse withholds a prescribed opioid medication from a client with intractable pain because the nurse fears the client will become addicted. in this situation the nurse is adhering to which ethical principle?

Answer 1

Beneficence commonly is referred to as "doing of good"; it is related to the nurse's duty to help clients further their legitimate interest within the boundaries of safety. Unfortunately in this situation the client's priority is relief from pain and the nurse should be working with other health team members to achieve this objective. Veracity is defined as telling the truth. Autonomy, as an ethical principle, means that the nurse respects the client and the choices that are made. Paternalism occurs if the nurse interferes with the individual's autonomy by disregarding the client's choices.