Abstract

In this note on nursing ethics, Mr Martin Bunzl, a philosopher who is involved in seminars on medical ethics at his university, describes the ethical dilemmas of the nurse in the USA. He sets out the arguments to support the view that a nurse ought always to follow the orders of the physician and critically evaluates them both from an ethical and a legal standpoint. The practical implications of the view that a nurse's responsibility is to do what is in the best interests of patients are also discussed.