This episode is created as part of the EWMA Toolkit project on Prevention of pressure ulcer/injury recurrence in patients with spinal cord injuries. The discussion highlights how laws, national guidelines and institutional standards influence clinical practice and patient rights.
Key points include:
- the necessity of thorough documentation as legal evidence of care delivered
- managing informed consent when patients refuse repositioning, assessments or equipment
- handling cases where patients lack capacity, especially in palliative contexts
- how clinical standards and regulations are used to judge whether care met accepted practice
- case examples showing how documentation, autonomy and clinical judgement intersect in negligence claims
The episode underscores that safe practice relies on transparency, communication and adherence to recognised clinical standards while still placing the individual at the centre of care.
