human right dignity from nursing preservatives

1. Human Dignity and Human Right:
Nursing Perspective
Prof. Dr. Ram Sharan Mehta
Head, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department
College of Nursing
World Bioethics Day 19th October 2016
1Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

2. Human Rights Defined
Human rights are generally
defined as those rights, which are
inherent in our nature, and
without which, we cannot live as
human beings.
- United Nation
2Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

3. The Concept of human rights
• Human dignity
• Universality
• Inalienability
• Indivisibility
3Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

4. HUMAN RIGHTS
• Human rights are the rights a person has
simply because he or she is a human being
• Human Rights are the basic entitlements to be
met for individuals to live with dignity
• HUMAN RIGHTS is defined as the supreme,
inherent, and inalienable rights to life, to
dignity, and to self-development.
4Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

5. Inherent
Fundamental
Inalienable
Imprescriptible
Indivisible
Universal
Interdependent
Basic Characteristics of
Human Rights
5Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

6. Economic Rights
Cultural RightsSocial Rights
Civil Rights Political Rights
Types of Human Rights
6Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

7. Five categories of Human Rights
• Civil – the right to be treated as an equal to
anyone else in society
• Political – the right to vote, to freedom of
speech and to obtain information
• Economic – the right to participate in an
economy that benefits all; and to desirable work
• Social – the right to education, health care, food,
clothing, shelter and social security
• Cultural – the right to freedom of religion, and to
speak the language, and to practice the culture
of one’s choice
7Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

8. Nursing Status in Nepal
• In NNC till 21st September 2016 : 66045
Nurses are registred.
• In Nepal total: Colleges/Schools
- 1 = PhD
- 5= M. Sc. Nursing
- 41= B.Sc. Nursing
- 33= BN
- 4 = BSN
- 104 = PCL
- ANMs = 50
5500 to 6000 Nurses
Produce per year
8Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

9. The International Council of Nurses (ICN):
• The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation
of more than 130 national nurses associations (NNAs),
representing the more than 16 million nurses worldwide.
• Founded in 1899, ICN is the world’s first and widest
reaching international organization for health
professionals. (WHO-1948, ILO-1990, UNESCO-1945)
• Operated by nurses and leading nurses internationally, ICN
works to ensure quality nursing care for all, sound health
policies globally, the advancement of nursing knowledge,
and the presence worldwide of a respected nursing
profession and a competent and satisfied nursing
workforce.
9Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

10. ICN CODE: World wide accepted
The ICN Code has served as the standard for
nurses worldwide since it was first adopted in
1953. The Code is regularly reviewed and
revised in response to the realities of nursing
and health care in a changing society. The
Code makes it clear that inherent in nursing is
respect for human rights, including the right
to life, to dignity and to be treated with
respect.
10Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

11. • Nurses have the rights to practice in accordance
with the nursing legislation of the country in
which they work and to adopt The ICN Code of
Ethics for Nurses or their own national ethical
code. They also have a right to practice in an
environment that provides personal safety,
freedom from abuse and violence, threats or
intimidation.'' (ICN, 2011)
• NAN was established in BS 2018 Magh 15 (1962
A.D ) became a member of International Council
of Nurses (ICN) Geneva in 1969 A.D
11Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

12. Why are human right relevant to Nursing?
• Advocating the highest standards of care and dignity
for needing nursing care is at the heart of its work.
• Bringing attention to human rights abuse affecting
patients, nursing staffs, there by increasing practical
action
• The code of Ethics of the ICN (2006) specially calls on
national nursing association to develop position
statements and guideless on human rights.
These must be grounded in international and
national agreements and laws, as well as codes of
nursing conduct and ethics.
12Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

13. Human rights and health:
• With the development of an international
human rights framework after World War II ,
there was a strong focus on promoting civil and
political rights. More recently, however, there
has been stronger emphasis on a wider
approach to human rights, particularly by non-
governmental organizations, and a push to give
equal weight to social and economic rights,
including the right to health (Eide,2011).
13Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

14. The UDHR states that: ‘Everyone has the right to a
standard of living adequate for the health and
wellbeing of himself and of his family, including
medical care and necessary social services and the
right to security in the event of ......sickness.''(UN,
1948, Article 25(1).
• American Nurses Association code of ethics states
that nurses owes the same duties to self as to
others, including the responsibility to preserve
integrity and safely, to promote competence, and
to continue personal and growth.
14Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

15. The code: Standards of conduct, performance and
ethics for nurses and midwives (NMC, 2008) are :
''The people in your care must be able to trust you with their health
and wellbeing. To justify that trust, you must:
• Make the care of people your first concern, treating them as
individuals and respecting their dignity.
• Work with others to protect and promote the health and wellbeing
of those in your care, their families and careers, and the wider
community.
• Provide a high standard of practice and care at all times.
• Be open and honest, act with integrity and upload the reputation of
your profession.
As a professional, you are personally accountable for actions and
omissions in your practice, and must always be able to justify your
decisions.
You must always act lawfully, whether those laws relate to your
professional practice or personal life.''
15Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

16. Dignity
• Dignity is concerned with how people fell,
think and behave in relation to the worth or
value to themselves and others.
• To treat someone with dignity is to treat them
as being worth, in a way that is respectful of
them as valued individuals.
• In care situations, dignity may be promoted or
diminished by: the physical environment;
organizational culture; the attitudes and
behavior of the nursing team and others; and
by the way in which care activities are carried
out.
16Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

17. Dignity…
• When dignity is present people fell in
control, valued, confident, comfortable
and able to make decisions for
themselves.
• When dignity is absent people fell
devalued, lacking in control and comfort.
• The nursing team should, therefore, treat
all people in all settings and of any health
status with dignity; and dignified care
should continue after death.
17Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

18. • Dignity Violations: has not been recognized or
not spoken to, talked over or eye contact
avoided, or being seen, but only as a member
of a group and the individual character is
denied, violations of personal space which
may be culturally related.
• The right to dignity, equality and humanity is
universal, and nurses are well placed to
provide improvements that upload these
rights.
18Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

19. Examples of Few Incidents for
Human Right Violation in
Nursing field
19Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

20. 20Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

21. Examples:
• Chatra VDC issues
• BPKIHS: SN: Hepatitis-B Serum: NAN Role
• Many more issues…
21Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

22. Area of Human rights and dignity:
Where Nurse's can play a great Role
1. Privacy
2. Patient's right to personal medical informational
3. With holding life saving treatment.
4. End of life considerations
5. Right of refusal.
6. Informed Consent
7. Pain relief
8. Refusing treatment due to religions belief: BT,FP
9. Information about alternative treatments
10. Refusing life -saving treatment on behalf of minor.
11. Forced treatment of the mentally ill
12. End of life:(removal of life support)
22Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

23. Indivisibility of Human Rights
“All human rights are universal, indivisible and
interdependent and interrelated. The international
community must treat human rights globally in a fair and
equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same
emphasis. While the significance of national and regional
particularities and various historical, cultural and religious
backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of
States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural
systems, to promote and protect all human rights and
fundamental freedoms.”
The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (June 1993, Paragraph 5)
23Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

24. People and their rights
The State
Private sector
The media
International
actors
Civil Society
24Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

25. Human Rights Instruments
25Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

26. Human Rights Instruments
26Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

27. Thanku…!!
Thank you………
27Prof. Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS