Judith Hendrick’s research while affiliated with Oxford Brookes University and other places

Law and Ethics in Children's Nursing is an important and practical guide on the legal and ethical spects of child healthcare that enables nurses to understand the legal and ethical principles that underpin everyday nursing practice. It explores the concept of childhood and children's rights, the extent to which their rights are upheld in a variety of settings, and the relationship between law and ethics and how they interact in resolving problems and dilemmas that commonly arise in practice. With case studies, learning outcomes and scenarios throughout, Law and Ethics in Children's Nursing places the care and treatment of children in a legal and ethical framework, and explores the way in which legal and ethical aspects of children's nursing differ from those of adults. It explores general principles such as autonomy and consent, confidentiality, accountability and negligence. It then goes on to look at specialist areas such as abortion, sterilisation, research, mental health, organ donation, child protection and death.

IntroductionWhat is law?How the law is made – the sources of lawDivisions within the lawWhat is ethics?Ethical toolkitThe relationship between law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionResearchEthical considerations and principlesRegulation of researchLegal regulation of researchDonation, storage and use of organs and tissueHuman Tissue Act 2004Organ transplants from the deadThe relationship between law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionAssisted reproductionLegal regulation of assisted reproductionParentageChildren's right to know their genetic parentageSurrogacyThe legal regulation of surrogacyPregnancy and childbirthLegal aspects of pregnancyPrenatal injuriesThe relationship between law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionDefinitionsIs there an ethical obligation to prolong life?Is there a moral distinction between killing and letting die?Is there a moral distinction between intending and foreseeing a consequence?What legal duties are owed at the end of life?Is there a legal obligation to prolong life?Is it lawful to withhold and withdraw life-saving treatment from children?Can a child be deliberately killed?What rights do parents have to determine treatment?The court's roleThe relationship between law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionExplaining confidentialityChildren and confidentialityEthical justifications for the duty of confidentialityThe moral case for breaching confidentialityThe law of confidentialityChildren's legal right to confidentialityLegal exceptions to the duty of confidentialityAccess to recordsRelationship between law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionAutonomyRespecting and enhancing children's autonomyChallenging the pre-eminence of autonomyPaternalismThe law of consentEssential requirements for consent to be legally validDisagreements – the court's roleEmergenciesThe relationship between law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionDevelopment of children's welfare policiesModels of state interventionWelfare services – family support and preventionInvestigation of child abuse and neglectProtection of children in emergenciesLong-term orders – care and supervisionReferences

IntroductionDefining ‘mental disorder’Incidence of mental disorders in young peopleGuidance governing children's mental healthThe impact of a diagnosis of mental disorderMental Health Act 1983Informal admission and treatmentCompulsory admission – detaining young people against their willTreatments regulated by Part 4 of the MHA 1983Ethical issuesRelationship between the law and ethicsReferences

IntroductionChildren's health care servicesDefining termsRationing health care resourcesForms of rationing – how is health care rationed?Distributing scarce resources – how to make ‘moral’ decisionsRationing and the lawUsing the law to gain access to treatmentThe relationship between law and ethicsReferences