Context for Practice: Nurses demonstrate respect for the right of all people to participate in making decisions in all matters affecting them based on voluntary informed consent, consistent with their capacity. Nurses provide information and resources to promote autonomy and informed decision-making and recognize the power differentials that may exist in their relationships with clients. Nurses support the rights of clients to participate in decision-making even when clients’ rights are limited by law (e.g., incapacity).
| Ethical Responsibilities: Nurses demonstrate respect for the right to self-determination and autonomy of all people by |
| 1.2.1 |
ascertaining the client’s capacity to provide informed consent as early as possible and throughout the nurse-client relationship and taking appropriate action (e.g., capacity assessment) when the client’s capacity is hindered; |
| 1.2.2 |
ensuring that nursing care is provided with the person’s voluntary informed consent; |
| 1.2.3 |
providing clients with the information and education they need to make informed and autonomous decisions related to their health and well-being; |
| 1.2.4 |
providing health information in an open, accurate, understandable and transparent manner while respecting the wishes of clients to decline information about their treatment or health status; |
| 1.2.5 |
supporting a capable person’s ongoing right to refuse or withdraw consent for assessment, care or treatment; |
| 1.2.6 |
respecting the right of capable individuals to make decisions based on family expectations, cultural beliefs or community values while in accordance with provincial/territorial legislation regarding consent; |
| 1.2.7 |
recognizing the inherent power differentials between nurses and clients and refraining from misusing that power to influence decision-making; |
| 1.2.8 |
advocating for clients if their health is being compromised by factors beyond their control, including the decision-making of others; |
| 1.2.9 |
assisting families/others in understanding a person’s decisions, including when family members or others disagree with the decisions; |
| 1.2.10 |
recognizing the limitations of people to provide informed consent either because of incapacity or involuntary participation in care and respecting provincial/territorial legislation on capacity assessment and substitute decision-making; |
| 1.2.11 |
promoting participation of people considered incapable of consenting to care (e.g., young people, people with cognitive impairment) in health-related discussions and care decisions that affect them in a manner that is adapted to their capabilities; and |
| 1.2.12 |
respecting the best interests of clients and their previously known wishes or advance care planning, including end-of-life options that apply in any given situation. |