Midwife Licensure Exam Bioethics & Professional Conduct — Philippine Nursing Law & Legal AccountabilityConcept Map

Concept

Republic Act No. 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act of 2002)

Sub Concepts

• Repealed RA 7164 (1991 Act)
• Declared policy: maintain high standard of nursing practice, uphold profession dignity, ensure quality care delivery
• Creation and composition of Board of Nursing
• Examination, registration, and licensure requirements
• Scope of nursing practice definition
• Grounds for suspension or revocation of certificate
• Provisions on nursing education and professional development

Relationship To Central

The foundational governing statute that establishes the legal basis for nursing regulation and practice in the Philippines

Concept

Regulatory Bodies & Structures

Sub Concepts

• Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
• Board of Nursing (BON)
• Composition and appointment processes
• Functions and powers
• Relationship between PRC and BON

Relationship To Central

Organizations that administer and enforce nursing law and professional standards

Concept

Licensure & Eligibility Requirements

Sub Concepts

• Citizenship requirements (Philippine citizen or country with reciprocity)
• Good moral character
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from recognized school
• Examination eligibility criteria
• Passing score requirements (75% general average, minimum 60% per subject)
• Professional oath upon passing
• Certificate of registration issuance
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for license renewal

Relationship To Central

Legal prerequisites and conditions for entering the nursing profession in the Philippines

Concept

Scope of Nursing Practice (RA 9173, Section 28)

Sub Concepts

• Provision of nursing care utilizing the nursing process
• Assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
• Health education and counseling
• Health promotion and wellness activities
• Collaboration with health team members
• Administration of treatments and medications per authorized prescriber orders
• Provision of safe, quality nursing care in emergencies
• Supervision and teaching of nursing/midwifery students and aides
• Nursing administration, education, and research
• Sound nursing judgment in implementing physician orders
• Expanded nursing functions

Relationship To Central

Defines the legal boundaries and authorized functions that nurses may perform

Concept

Legal Accountability & Types of Liability

Sub Concepts

• Administrative liability (BON/PRC proceedings)
• Civil liability (private damages action)
• Criminal liability (state prosecution)
• Concurrent liability from single act possible

Relationship To Central

The three distinct legal exposures a nurse may face for professional conduct

Concept

Negligence & Malpractice Framework

Sub Concepts

• Negligence definition and four essential elements
• Duty owed to patient
• Breach of standard of care
• Causation (proximate cause)
• Damages/injury suffered
• Malpractice as professional negligence
• Standard of the profession applied
• Common negligent acts in nursing

Relationship To Central

Legal doctrine establishing how professional failure and harm are established in nursing

Concept

Legal Doctrines in Nursing Liability

Sub Concepts

• Res ipsa loquitur (thing speaks for itself)
• Inference of negligence from nature of injury
• Respondeat superior (let master answer)
• Vicarious liability of employer
• Non-extinction of nurse's own liability
• Doctrine of force majeure
• Unforeseeable events beyond human control
• Doctrine of last clear chance
• Final opportunity to avert harm

Relationship To Central

Established legal principles that govern nursing negligence and professional responsibility

Concept

Intentional Torts in Nursing

Sub Concepts

• Assault (threat creating fear of harmful contact)
• Battery (unauthorized harmful contact)
• False imprisonment (unjustified restraint)
• Defamation (written libel, spoken slander)
• Invasion of privacy and breach of confidentiality

Relationship To Central

Wrongful acts committed with intent that expose nurses to legal liability

Concept

Common Negligent Acts in Nursing Practice

Sub Concepts

• Medication errors and wrong drug administration
• Patient falls and failure to prevent injury
• Failure to monitor and report changes in condition
• Thermal burns from equipment or procedures
• Wrong-site or wrong-patient procedures
• Failure to follow up on physician orders
• Defective equipment used carelessly
• Inadequate or falsified documentation

Relationship To Central

Specific failures to meet standard of care that frequently result in liability claims

Concept

Documentation as Legal Protection

Sub Concepts

• Clinical record as legal document
• Nursing maxim: if not documented, not done
• Requirements for accurate charting
• Timeliness and completeness of documentation
• Legibility and clarity standards
• Prohibition on altering or falsifying records
• Transparent correction procedures
• Incident reports kept separate from patient chart

Relationship To Central

Nursing records as both clinical tool and primary legal evidence of care provided

Concept

Patient Rights in Philippine Healthcare

Sub Concepts

• Right to considerate, respectful care
• Non-discriminatory care consistent with human dignity
• Right to information about diagnosis, treatment, prognosis
• Informed consent and refusal of treatment
• Right to privacy and confidentiality
• Access to medical records
• Choice of physician and facility
• Right to second opinion
• Religious and cultural belief respect
• Refusal of research participation
• Right to be informed of hospital rules and costs

Relationship To Central

Legally protected entitlements that nurses must respect and facilitate

Concept

Protective Healthcare Legislation

Sub Concepts

• RA 8344 as amended by RA 10932 (Anti-Hospital Deposit Law)
• Emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay
• Prohibition on advance deposits for emergency care
• Laws protecting vulnerable groups (children, elderly, PWD, women)
• Mandatory reporting laws
• Communicable disease reporting
• Abuse reporting requirements

Relationship To Central

Philippine laws that establish safeguards for vulnerable populations and special situations

Concept

Data Privacy Act (RA 10173)

Sub Concepts

• Sensitive personal information definition
• Health data specifically protected
• Lawful basis for processing health information
• Consent requirements for information use
• Necessity of providing medical care as basis
• Transparency principle
• Legitimate purpose principle
• Proportionality principle
• Security requirements against unauthorized access
• National Privacy Commission enforcement
• Administrative fines for violations
• Criminal penalties for violations

Relationship To Central

Legal framework protecting health information as sensitive personal data

Concept

Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

Sub Concepts

• Promulgated by Board of Nursing (BON Resolution No. 220, s. 2004)
• Adopted in coordination with Philippine Nurses Association
• Relationship to people/patients served
• Relationship to nursing practice
• Relationship to co-workers
• Relationship to society and environment
• Relationship to profession
• Respect for dignity and rights
• Safe and competent practice requirement
• Honesty and integrity obligation
• Confidentiality protection
• Profession advancement promotion
• Violation as ground for administrative sanction

Relationship To Central

Professional ethical standards and conduct requirements complementing legal accountability

Concept

Professional Practice Safety Principles

Sub Concepts

• Work within defined scope of practice
• Follow institutional policy and standing orders
• Question and clarify doubtful orders in writing
• Obtain and verify informed consent
• Protect patient confidentiality actively
• Maintain competence through CPD
• Document completely and honestly
• Report adverse events appropriately
• Maintain professional boundaries
• Practice within competence level

Relationship To Central

Practical standards and habits that prevent legal liability and ensure ethical practice

To

Professional Regulation Commission

From

RA 9173 Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

Strength

strong

Relationship

RA 9173 established the PRC's mandate to administer and enforce nursing regulation

To

Board of Nursing

From

Professional Regulation Commission

Strength

strong

Relationship

PRC provides administrative and enforcement support to BON, which conducts examinations and regulates practitioners

To

Scope of Nursing Practice

From

RA 9173 Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

Strength

strong

Relationship

RA 9173 Section 28 defines and delimits the scope of authorized nursing functions

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Scope of Nursing Practice

Strength

strong

Relationship

Practicing outside legal scope creates liability exposure; staying within scope is foundational protection

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Negligence Framework

Strength

strong

Relationship

Negligence is the basis for civil liability claims and a common ground for administrative sanctions

To

Common Negligent Acts in Nursing Practice

From

Negligence Framework

Strength

strong

Relationship

Common negligent acts are the specific factual circumstances that establish breach of duty element

To

Negligence Framework

From

Documentation as Legal Protection

Strength

strong

Relationship

Adequate documentation provides evidence of duty performance; lack thereof supports negligence inference

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Documentation as Legal Protection

Strength

strong

Relationship

Good documentation is the nurse's primary defense against administrative, civil, and criminal liability

To

Patient Rights in Philippine Healthcare

From

Data Privacy Act RA 10173

Strength

strong

Relationship

RA 10173 legally enforces patient rights to privacy and confidentiality of health information

To

Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

From

Patient Rights in Philippine Healthcare

Strength

strong

Relationship

The Code of Ethics legally and ethically binds nurses to respect and uphold all patient rights

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

Strength

strong

Relationship

Violation of the Code is grounds for administrative proceeding and potential license suspension/revocation

To

Board of Nursing

From

Licensure & Eligibility Requirements

Strength

strong

Relationship

BON establishes and enforces the eligibility criteria and examination standards for licensure

To

Negligence Framework

From

Legal Doctrines in Nursing Liability

Strength

strong

Relationship

Legal doctrines (res ipsa loquitur, respondeat superior, etc.) are applied in proving or defending negligence claims

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Intentional Torts in Nursing

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Intentional torts (assault, battery, false imprisonment) constitute separate grounds for administrative, civil, and criminal liability

To

Patient Rights in Philippine Healthcare

From

Protective Healthcare Legislation

Strength

strong

Relationship

RA 8344/10932 and other protective laws legally establish and enforce specific patient rights and protections

To

Scope of Nursing Practice

From

Professional Practice Safety Principles

Strength

strong

Relationship

Safety principles require nurses to work strictly within their defined scope and seek clarification of orders

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Professional Practice Safety Principles

Strength

strong

Relationship

Adherence to safety principles is the practical means of preventing liability in all three domains

To

Legal Doctrines in Nursing Liability

From

Negligence Framework

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Legal doctrines modify or support the application of negligence elements in specific factual contexts

To

Intentional Torts in Nursing

From

Patient Rights in Philippine Healthcare

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Violation of patient rights (unauthorized contact, confidentiality breach) constitutes intentional torts

To

Licensure & Eligibility Requirements

From

RA 9173 Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

Strength

strong

Relationship

RA 9173 establishes the statutory framework for examination eligibility, passing standards, and licensure requirements

To

Professional Practice Safety Principles

From

Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

Strength

strong

Relationship

The Code provides the ethical foundation underlying all professional safety practices and principles

To

Professional Practice Safety Principles

From

Data Privacy Act RA 10173

Strength

strong

Relationship

Data protection is a legal requirement embedded in the nurse's duty to protect confidentiality

To

Legal Accountability Types

From

Protective Healthcare Legislation

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Failure to comply with protective laws (e.g., mandatory reporting, emergency treatment) is grounds for liability

To

Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

From

RA 9173 Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

Strength

strong

Relationship

RA 9173 empowers the BON to promulgate and enforce the Code of Ethics as binding professional standard