Legal and ethical conflicts in hospital settings: thematic synthesis of qualitative studies focused on nursing practice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The conflict between legal requirements and the principles of care ethics is one of the fundamental challenges in healthcare settings. Such conflicts can lead to moral distress, emotional exhaustion, and a crisis of professional identity among healthcare staff. This study aimed to identify and explain the dimensions and consequences of these conflicts in a hospital nursing care.

Methods

This research employed thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. A systematic search was conducted in reputable national and international databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Of the retrieved literature, 15 qualitative studies were included that examined legal-ethical conflicts in hospital settings. Data were synthesized through open coding, axial categorization

SUBMITTER: Yarahmadi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12755018 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature