Handwritten style study notes on white paper for nursing exam NORCET 11. Topic: Laws in Nursing - Fundamentals of Nursing. Clean handwritten blue pen notes on white background. LAWS IN NURSING Overview: • Criminal law = crime against society • Civil law = crime against individuals • Felony = major crime • Misdemeanour = lesser offence, may result in fines or suspension of license • Infraction = minor offence TORTS Violations of civil law against a person or property. A tort = wrongful act that causes harm to someone. Commission: It is an INAPPROPRIATE ACTION or act that a professional would perform or not perform Omission: • Lack of appropriate action OR failure to do the right thing → undesirable outcome • Sign of omission = things you should do but don't do • Failure of professional nurse to perform an act that would have been performed • Example: Doctor ordered Inj. Febrinil for fever but nurse could not give. Types of Torts: 1. Unintentional Torts 2. Intentional Torts UNINTENTIONAL TORTS: Civil wrong unknowingly by a nurse that accidently causes damage or financial loss. Examples: Negligence, Malpractice, Breach of Duty Negligence: • Nurse fails to prove care or reasonableness • Damage: physical, emotional, financial, mental • Medical professional fails to provide standard of care → harm to patient • Example: Nurse transferring patient from ICU to X-ray, side rails not raised → patient falls → fractures. UNKNOWINGLY = Negligence Malpractice: • Medical professional fails to provide patient with ACCEPTED STANDARD OF PRACTICE → harm/injury/death • Any unreasonable lack of skills in professional duties Breach of Duty: • Failure to perform according to established standard of conduct and care • Example: Mother fails to help child cross street → child injured = breach of duty Strict Liability: • Responsibility to answer for harm from ultra hazardous activity Title at top: NORCET 11 - LAWS IN NURSING Page: 1 of 2

Handwritten style study notes on white paper for nursing exam NORCET 11. Clean handwritten blue pen notes on white background. Topic: Intentional Torts, Examples of Negligence/Malpractice, and Euthanasia. INTENTIONAL TORTS: Occurs when a person damages another person WILLINGLY. Harms patient's property (emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually). Types: 1. ASSAULT: Mental or physical threat to patient by nurse. Knowingly/intentionally threatening or attempting violence without touching. Example: Forcing medication by threatening. 2. BATTERY: Touching or wounding a client in offensive manner with or without intent. Example: Pushing a folded hand on client. 3. FRAUD: Purposeful false presentation of facts to create deception/cheat. Example: Telling false diagnosis to patients. 4. INVASION OF PRIVACY: Unreasonable/unnecessary intrusion. Example: Unnecessary operations, unauthorized touching, exposure of client's case. 5. FALSE IMPRISONMENT: Imprisoning patient WITHOUT legal authority. Example: Restraining client's limb without doctor's order. 6. DEFAMATION: Damaging good reputation. Two ways: • LIBEL = damage reputation by WRITTEN, PICTURED, LIVE TELECAST • SLANDER = damage reputation ORALLY or BY SPEECH EXAMPLES OF NEGLIGENCE/MALPRACTICE: • Incompetent assessment → inappropriate actions • Improper identification of client • Careless in caring for client's property • IV administration errors (incorrect flow rate) • Leaving surgical sponging inside client • Causing burns • Medication errors → injury • Failure to follow protocols/procedures • Failure to provide safe environment • Failure to prevent falls • Failure to use sterile technique • Failure to monitor client's condition • Failure to report complete handover • Failure to report change in patient's condition to doctor • Failure to convey discharge instructions • Failure to monitor IV therapy complications (infiltration, phlebitis, fluid overload) ★ RECALL NORCET (NORCET-2021): Q: Nurse forgets to raise side rails → patient falls → leg fractures. Nurse liable for? A. Negligence B. Battery C. Malpractice D. Breach of Duty ANSWER: A - Negligence (nurse did not perform duty in reasonable act) EUTHANASIA: • Killing someone due to distressing physical/mental state • Intentionally ending life to relieve pain and suffering • Voluntary euthanasia = at request of person himself • Euthanasia is CRIMINAL in almost all countries including INDIA Types: • Involuntary euthanasia: without wishing the client 1. Active euthanasia: Using specific methods to cause death (loading dose of inotrops, removing oxygen/life support) 2. Passive euthanasia: Rejecting/holding treatment → patient dies (e.g., neglecting food & treatment) • Voluntary euthanasia = Assisted suicide (client wants/willing to die, requests doctor) NOTE: Euthanasia is ILLEGAL in India NORCET 11 - Page 2 of 2