Question

A newly admitted acutely psychotic patient is a private patient of the medical director and a private-pay patient. To whom does the psychiatric nurse assigned to the patient owe the duty of care?

a. Medical director
b. Hospital
c. Profession
d. Patient

Answer 1

Option (d), The psychiatric nurse owes the primary duty of care to the patient, not to the medical director or the hospital. Patient care and well-being are paramount in medical ethics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The psychiatric nurse assigned to an acutely psychotic patient owes their primary duty of care to the patient. Regardless of the patient's payment method or the relationships within the hospital, the nurse's responsibility is to provide the best possible care to the patient, in line with medical ethics and professional standards.

This duty of care is enshrined in the principles of medical ethics, which prioritize patient well-being and autonomy over other considerations, such as the wishes of the medical director or the policies of the hospital.