title: Autonomy and care: acting in a person's best interests.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Law and Politics, Faculty of Health, London South Bank University.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fullbrook
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom