Marc Cornock

Unconfident nurse
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: What should I do if I am asked to perform tasks outside of my competence?

Never perform a task you are not competent to carry out. Doing so puts your nursing career and your patients at risk, warns legal expert Marc Cornock

refuse
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Can I refuse to care for a patient?

As long as your reasons are not based on discrimination, and it is not an emergency, you can refuse to care for a patient provided you follow your employer’s policy and keep your line manager informed, advises legal expert Marc Cornock.

copyright
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Do I own the copyright to a chart I designed?

A nurse has designed a chart for recording patient observations and data. Copyright and entitlement to payment can depend on your contract, advises legal expert Marc Cornock.

student
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Can a student interview a patient for a study without gaining consent?

A mentor is concerned that a student’s plans to interview patients for a research study without their consent is unethical. Consent must be given prior to any patient interaction, and patient safety must always be the priority, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

cpr
Nursing Standard

Marc Cornock: Current regulations force nurses to attempt futile CPR

The NMC should act to ally nurses fears that they can be reprimanded for not attempting to resuscitate a patient who is clearly dead, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

legal
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Can a mentor report a pre-registration student to the NMC?

A mentor believes a student's attitude makes her unsuitable for nursing, but students who are not yet registered with the NMC cannot be reported to the regulator. The university's disciplinary process is an option, but try a more informal approach first, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

Nursing Standard

Legal advice: How can I ensure my partner gets my NHS pension? We are not married

Make sure you understand the terms of your pension scheme and state clearly who you wish to benefit from it in the event of your death, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

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Nursing Standard

Legal advice: can my son’s friend undertake work experience at the GP surgery where I work?

Allowing a non-health professional access to patients or patient records risks breaching confidentiality and raises issues around consent, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

Gifts to patients
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Why does my manager says it's unethical to lend a patient my DVDs?

Giving, or even lending, something to a patient can be misconstrued, so obtain consent from your manager and follow the NMC code, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

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Nursing Standard

Legal advice: I am thinking of cancelling my registration with the NMC. Do you have any advice?

Removing yourself from the Nursing and Midwifery Council register limits the roles and positions you can legally undertake, so consider your options carefully before doing this, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

Book_Reviews_06.
Nursing Older People

Book review: Deprivation of Liberty: Collected Guidance

All the relevant guidance on safeguarding in a single book.

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Nursing Standard

Legal advice: should I comply with a request to write a report on an incident I was not involved in?

If you are asked to write a report on an incident which occured when you were not there, present the facts clearly, ensure it is based on the evidence provided and seek advice from a trade union representative if necessary, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

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Nursing Standard

Legal advice: I am concerned that a colleague is taking shortcuts and putting patients at risk. What should I do?

Registered nurses have a duty under the NMC code to raise concerns if they believe the safety of patients or others is at risk, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

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Nursing Standard

Legal advice: My boss is trying to pressure me into having the flu jab. Is this legal?

Compelling nurses to have the flu vaccination against their wishes is both unethical and unlawful, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

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Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Is it okay to have a drink with colleagues at the end of a shift during the Christmas period?

Before having an alcoholic drink at work, check employer policies and make sure your professional responsibility is not impaired, says legal expert Marc Cornock.

Sharing
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: is it okay to lend a student one of my projects?

Legal expert Marc Cornock advises a newly-qualified nurse on whether she can share her...

copyright
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: is it okay to record presentations at conferences or workshops?

To avoid copyright infringement, always get permission before recording a presentation, says...

Medical records
Nursing Standard

Legal advice: Am I allowed to read my own hospital notes?

Question: I was in hospital recently and was told by a nurse that I had to make an appointment with the doctor if I wanted to read my own notes. Surely they are my property and I am entitled to read them?

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