Non-Maleficence concept in palliative care patient in ICU: A concept analysis

Abstract

Background: Non-maleficence is one of the main ethical principles that is important in the implementation of patient care. The principle of non-maleficence is still ambiguous and is often confused with the principle of beneficence. Research on the principle of non-maleficence has been widely conducted, but study on the principle of non-maleficence in palliative care in the ICU is still rare and unclear even though on-maleficence as one of the ethical principles is needed by health workers in making palliative care decisions on patients in the ICU.

Purpose: To find a clear definition of the concept of non-maleficence in palliative care patients in the ICU.

Method: The analysis approach is based on the Avant concept, which was obtained from online databases namely PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords "non-maleficence", "palliative care" and "Intensive care unit" or "ICU". The collected literature was published in the last two decades, namely in 2003-2023.

Results: This concept analysis show the concept and operational definition of the non-maleficence in palliative care patients in the ICU. We determines the attributes, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents of non-maleficence in palliative care patient in ICU.

Conclusion: From this concept analysis, an operational definition of non-maleficence is produced, namely the prohibition of taking actions that can harm or worsen or cause harm to patients. With the principle of non-maleficence in palliative care patients, nurses can make the best decisions, not hurt patients, and provide patient comfort to patients which results in improved patient quality of life.