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Introduction

According to Juujärvi & Häkkinen (2020), laws are organized set of rules accepted by people and the state. Ethics are philosophies that sure people know what is morally right or wrong. (Butts & Rich, 2019). This paper will examine the similarities and differences between laws and ethics and their significance in the health field. 

Similarities and differences between laws and ethics

First, Laws and ethics are similar in a way as they both prevent unacceptable and immoral acts in society. For example, they both encourage moral behaviors such as respect for human life. Secondly, they are both used to make guidelines that shape health workers behaviors. This enables health workers to handle challenging situations when providing healthcare services to patients. Laws and ethics have notable differences. Firstly, ethics are moral values that health workers establishes for their own personal behavior when dealing with patients. Whereas laws are established rules that govern the healthcare relations between health care workers and patients. Secondly, the main role ethics is to model health workers into morally upright people in the society while laws ensure an orderly, safe and efficient method of providing healthcare services. Lastly, healthcare ethics guidelines are universal while health laws vary depending on the jurisdiction.   

Significance of laws and ethics in the health field

Laws and ethics are essential to the health care field because they help prevent medical malpractice. For example, the False Claims Act is a health care law that prevents doctors from defrauding patients with redundant treatments or test. Also, the healthcare professional are required to take an ethical oath to “do no harm.”  Laws and ethics also help to maintain efficiency is health institutions. This because they provide guidelines on how health workers should provide healthcare services to their patients.    

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2019). Nursing ethics. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Talwar, S. (2017). Ethics, law, and cultural competence in art therapy.

Juujärvi, S., & Häkkinen, M. (2020). The ethics of care and justice in nursing education. Ethics as a resource. Examples of RDI projects and educational development.

Al-Breiki, M. (2017). What Influence do Nurses Practice More: Law or Ethics? JOJ Nurse Healthcare, 5(3), 103.