Another important ethical topic is the patient's right to make independent choices in refusing life-saving medicines or treatments. This issue impacts the nurse's standards of care and code of ethics. “The nurse owes the patient a duty of care and must act at all times in accordance with this duty, respecting and supporting the patient's right to accept or refuse treatment” (Volinsky). For a patient to make these types of decisions, they must first be deemed competent. While a patient's choice to refuse life-saving treatment may go against nursing codes of ethics and beliefs, attempting to force them to receive treatment is a violation and would result in legal action. “….then refusal of these interventions may be considered inappropriate, but in the case of a capable patient, the patient must have the ultimate authority to decide” (Volinsky). Although my values ​​about the value of life and the importance of action may be different than others, as a nurse I must learn to put them aside and follow all ethical codes, regardless of whether I have a dilemma with them or not. Sometimes with ethics there is no right or wrong, but as nurses we have to understand where to draw the line in some cases. In conclusion, there are numerous legal and ethical issues evident in nursing practice. Nurses should study and be as knowledgeable as possible about the ethics and legality in their field to ensure mistakes do not occur. Ethical issues vary based on the patient's opinions, religion and environment. Nurses are influenced by these same views, but in most cases they are not the same as patients. As nurses we must learn to put the care of our patients and their beliefs, rights and desires before our own