“I’m sorry.” These are the words that Naomi Bowden repeated as she tearfully attempted to get through her opening statement to a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in Wollongong. Ms Bowden tearfully spoke about her daughter, Bella, ...

Nurses are required to maintain patient confidentially due to their legal, moral, ethical, employment and professional duties as they are trusted with a patient’s most intimate and personal information. This trust is often a challenge to maintain when working in ...

Nurses are presently working amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But can a nurse legally refuse to work? Most nurses are employed pursuant to a contract of employment. This is a legally binding arrangement between the employer and nurse. It sets out ...

Increasingly, healthcare employers are using biometric and electronic databases and surveillance cameras to monitor their employees, who need to be vigilant about protecting their rights and personal information. This case dealt with an unfair dismissal claim in a non-healthcare workplace, ...

Many nurses are engaging in cosmetic and beauty practices for commercial benefit, either as an employee or sole practitioner. While a recent case involved the negligent actions of a person without nursing registration and training, it contains many salient legal ...

In any action alleging negligence by a nurse, it is for the plaintiff to prove a number of ‘ingredients’. One ingredient is whether the actions of the nurse fell below the reasonable standard expected of the skill and knowledge of ...

When nurses use social media, whether at home or at work, they need to be aware of their professional obligations. Their online behaviour is governed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s codes of conduct and ethics, as well ...

This unique case from the UK brings to light the fine balance courts have to maintain between a disabled consumer’s rights and his or her need for ‘protection’ from engaging in risky behaviour. This is never more so than when ...

Victoria will see voluntary assisted dying become law in June next year and nurses are still working through what the change in legislation means for their practice. And that's exactly what the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) unpacked at a ...

An increasing number of hospital and health services are collating, storing and utilising medical and nursing records in electronic databases. These databases are usually protected with individualised passwords which can be monitored and checked to preserve patients’ privacy and ensure ...