Clinical Guides: Ethics &amp; Law Resource Guide: Ethics in Clinical Practice

Ethics in Clinical Practice

Ethics in medical clinical practice refers to the moral principles and professional standards that guide healthcare professionals in delivering care to patients. These ethics ensure that medical decisions and actions prioritise patient well-being, respect, and fairness while upholding professional integrity.

Key principles

Autonomy – Respecting a patient’s right to make informed decisions, including the right to refuse treatment.
Beneficence – Acting in the best interests of the patient to promote their health.
Non-Maleficence – Ensuring that healthcare interventions do not cause unnecessary harm.
Justice – Ensuring fairness in the distribution of healthcare resources.
Confidentiality – Protecting patient information and only sharing it when necessary for care or required by law.
Informed Consent – Ensuring patients receive all necessary information about a treatment before agreeing to it.
Professional Integrity – Upholding honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all aspects of medical practice.

Recommended resources:

Monash Health Policies & Procedures

Medical ethics

In Australia, doctors must follow ethical guidelines set by key regulatory bodies:

Recommended resources:

Monash Health Policies & Procedures

Borysowski, J.,et al. (2021). Ethics codes and medical decision making. Patient education and counseling, 104(6), 1312–1316.
Borysowski, J., et al. (2019). Ethics codes and use of new and innovative drugs. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 85(3), 501–507.
Davies, B., et al. (2024). Deference or critical engagement: how should healthcare practitioners use clinical ethics guidance? Monash bioethics review, 42(1), 1–15.

Nursing ethics

In Australia, nurses must follow ethical guidelines set by key regulatory bodies:

Recommended resources:

Monash Health Policies & Procedures

Cowin, L. S., et al. (2019). The relevance of nurses and midwives code of conduct in Australia. International nursing review, 66(3), 320–328.
Sellman, D. (2011). Professional values and nursing. Medicine, health care, and philosophy, 14(2), 203–208.

AHPRA. (2018). NMBA codes of conduct: Being a midwife or a nurse means something.

Allied Health ethics

Allied health professionals in Australia follow ethical standards set by AHPRA and their respective professional associations.

AHPRA Shared Code of Conduct
Profession-Specific Codes of Ethics – Each allied health profession (e.g., physiotherapy, psychology, speech pathology, dietetics) has additional ethical guidelines.
Workplace & Health Service Policies

Recommended resources:

Monash Health Policies & Procedures