Health Law and policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Health Law and policy - Essay Example Moreover, ever health care provide is as well subjected to adhere to the stipulations stated therein. According to the provision, where a consumer has no knowledge of these rights, the Act directs the care providers to inform the consumers of their rights and besides, allow the consumers to exercise their rights while receiving treatment from them. The approach put forth in this act is to induce ethics in the health care industry. Divergences in the definition of ethics have raised issues as the term is subject to debate. The HDC Act provides a lucid direction based on the same by giving the ethical issues to be observed by the health care providers while providing such services to their consumers. Laverack, (2005) defines ethic as a set of laws and rules guiding the conducts people or professionals in a given field while executing their duties in line with their profession. Psychiatric nurses deal with psychologically vulnerable individuals who are in most occasions not able to make sound judgments concerning the various issues affecting their lives. Precautionary measures, therefore, must be taken to avoid the manipulation and abuse of such consumers. HDC Act provides exactly this intervention mechanism to health care consumers. The act has a set of ten regulations stating the rights of all consumers seeking health care attention from various providers in New Zealand. The Act accords the following rights to consumers which are subject to adherence by the care providers, these are: the right to be treated with respect, fairly, without pressure or discrimination, the right to dignity and independence, right to access for relevant information and to receive a quality service and to be treated with care and skill. The other rights accorded to the consumers by the HDC Act are the right to making independent decision about care services received, and to change mind whenever desired and the