Journal of clinical nursing
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As a result of rapid developments in medical technology, health-care workers are increasingly faced with decisions regarding the prolongation of life and the withdrawal of treatment. Such decisions are often extremely complex and present a moral dilemma: they are further complicated by prevailing politico-economic, social and cultural influences. This article contrasts deontological and utilitarian philosophical perspectives, and discusses ethical principles which impinge on the decision making process. A knowledge and understanding of these philosophies and principles are essential to assist clinical practitioners in the examination of moral issues surrounding life and death.
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Review Case Reports
Preoperative hair removal: a case report with implications for nursing.
Preoperative hair removal has been a practice since the beginning of this century. Research in the 1970s and 1980s provide support for the contention that the procedure is unnecessary for wound asepsis and may increase the rate of surgical site infections (Seropian & Reynolds, 1971; Hamilton et al., 1977; Cruse & Foord, 1980; Court-Brown, 1981; Alexander et al., 1983; Winfield, 1986; Fairclough et al., 1987). However, some hospitals have continued routine preoperative hair removal long after dissemination of recommendations against it. ⋯ The court held the hospital liable for the nurse's negligent breach of its protocol. The case clearly supports findings in the literature that preoperative hair removal is potentially dangerous. It reinforces the importance of strict adherence to hospital protocols which have been put in place to protect patients' safety.
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The appropriateness of any set of criteria generated to measure the quality of a particular intervention is dependent upon a thorough, up-to-date assessment of the current state-of-the-art. Few areas in nursing have received as much research attention as that of pain control, particularly post-operative pain control. ⋯ This particular format was selected in order to help in the development of structure, process and outcome criteria on the topic of post-operative pain management. The section on measurement is to inform practitioners about pain-assessment charts and provide ideas about auditing this area.