Ethics & Legal Aspects in Nursing Healthcare Reform: The Dismantling of the Affordable Care Act

As nursing involves the care and well-being of individuals, it is imperative to examine the ethical and legal aspects that guide and govern nursing practice. Ethics and legal aspects are essential components of nursing practice that govern the conduct and responsibilities of nurses (Suhonen et al., 2018). Ethics concerns the principles and values that guide nursing practice and decision-making, such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice. Nurses must uphold ethical principles in their interactions with patients, colleagues, and the healthcare system to ensure safe and effective care. Legal aspects, on the other hand, refer to the laws and regulations that govern nursing practice, including licensure, liability, and scope of practice (Balestra, 2018). Nurses must adhere to legal requirements to avoid legal sanctions and protect patients’ rights. Thus, nurses must integrate ethical and legal principles into their practice to promote quality and ethical care while complying with the law.

Healthcare reform is a highly debated and contentious topic in the United States, with proponents and opponents often fiercely advocating for their positions. One of the most significant developments in recent years was the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which aimed to increase healthcare access for millions of previously uninsured or underinsured (Glied et al., 2020). However, in recent years, there have been efforts to dismantle the ACA, which has resulted in a range of impacts on the healthcare system. Some argue that dismantling the ACA could lead to decreased access to care for vulnerable populations, increased costs for individuals and the government, and decreased overall health outcomes. On the other hand, some argue that the ACA was a flawed policy that did not adequately address the root causes of healthcare issues in the United States and that dismantling it will allow for more effective solutions to be developed (Chin et al., 2018). The debate over healthcare reform and the dismantling of the ACA will likely continue for some time, with significant implications for the health and well-being of millions of Americans. This essay will explore the ethical and legal aspects of healthcare reform, the ten essential benefits guaranteed by insurance plans in the ACA Health Care Marketplace, and the successes and failures of the ACA.

The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Healthcare Reform

Healthcare reform is a complex and multifaceted process that involves ethical and legal considerations. Healthcare reform aims to improve access to healthcare, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the quality of care (Yip et al., 2019). However, implementing healthcare reform raises ethical and legal issues that must be addressed. One of the ethical considerations of healthcare reform is the principle of distributive justice. This principle requires that healthcare resources are allocated fairly and equitably (Liu et al., 2020). Healthcare reform ensures that all individuals have access to healthcare, regardless of income or social status. However, implementing healthcare reform can be challenging because it involves allocating limited resources. Therefore, policymakers must balance the need to provide healthcare to all individuals with the need to allocate resources fairly and equitably. Another ethical consideration of healthcare reform is the principle of autonomy (Layman, 2020). Autonomy refers to an individual’s right to make decisions about their healthcare. Healthcare reform seeks to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare. However, implementing healthcare reform can be challenging because it requires individuals to have access to accurate and reliable healthcare information. Therefore, policymakers must ensure that individuals have access to the information they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare.