Chapter II: Nursing ethics

Nurses must listen to, examine, advise, educate or care for all persons with the same conscience, whatever their origin, morals, social or family situation, beliefs or religion, disability, state of health, age, sex, reputation, feelings they may have towards them or their situation with regard to the social protection system. He shall assist them in all circumstances. They must always maintain a correct and attentive attitude towards the person in…

Once they have agreed to provide care, nurses are obliged to ensure continuity. Nurses have the right to refuse care for professional or personal reasons, except in emergencies or in cases where they are failing in their duty of humanity. If the nurse is obliged to interrupt or decides not to provide care, he or she must, provided that the patient is not harmed, explain the reasons, refer the patient…

Nurses implement the right of all persons to be informed about their state of health in accordance with their professional skills. This information relates to the care, means and techniques used, about which the nurse gives all useful advice. It is the nurse’s responsibility within the framework of his or her competence as determined by articles L. 4311-1 and R. 4311-1 et seq. If a request for information goes beyond…

The free and informed consent of the person being examined or cared for is sought in all cases. If the patient, in a condition to express his/her wishes, refuses the proposed treatment, the nurse shall respect this refusal after informing the patient of the consequences and, with the patient’s agreement, the prescribing doctor. If the patient is incapable of expressing his wishes, the nurse may not intervene unless the trusted…

The nurse informs the patient of his or her involvement in a protocol involving other healthcare professionals in a cooperative approach, involving the transfer of activities or acts of care or the reorganisation of their methods of working with the patient.

The consent of the minor or of the person of full age subject to a legal protection measure with personal representation must be obtained if he is capable of expressing his wishes and participating in the decision, if necessary with the assistance of the person responsible for the measure.

Nurses examining or caring for a person deprived of their liberty may not, directly or indirectly, even by their mere presence, encourage or condone an attack on that person’s physical or mental integrity or dignity. If he finds that this person has been subjected to abuse or ill-treatment, subject to the consent of the person concerned, he shall inform the judicial authorities. In the case of a minor or a…

When nurses become aware that a person with whom they are working is being abused, deprived, ill-treated or sexually assaulted, they must use the most appropriate means to protect that person, exercising caution and circumspection. In the case of a minor or a person who is unable to protect him/herself due to age, illness or physical or mental condition, nurses must alert the judicial, medical or administrative authorities, except in…

In all circumstances, nurses endeavour, through their professional action, to relieve patients’ suffering by means appropriate to their condition and provide moral support. Nurses have a duty, within the framework of their own skills and on medical prescription or as part of a therapeutic protocol, to provide care aimed at relieving pain.

Nurses have a duty to use all the means at their disposal to ensure that everyone lives with dignity until death. In particular, they have a duty to help patients whose condition so requires to have access to palliative care and support. It also endeavours, in the circumstances mentioned in the previous paragraphs, to support the patient’s family and friends.