ENHANCING PATIENT WELL-BEING - ADVOCACY OR NEGOTIATION

The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health V isitors (UKCC) document, Exercising Accountability, states that the ro le of patient's advocate is an essential aspect of good professional n ursing practice (1). The author examines the case for and against the nurse being the best person to act as advocate, and critically evaluat es the criteria of advocacy. The problematic moral issues arising are discussed, and a case made for negotiation between the members of the multidisciplinary team and the patient/client (or a significant person to the patient) in order to promote the well-being of the patient and to minimise suffering. She concludes that the health care professiona l's (including the nurse's) role is to help people to assert control o ver the factors which affect their lives, that is empowerment, rather than advocacy.