Patient Confidentiality
Patient Confidentiality: Ethical Implications to Nursing Practice
Patient Confidentiality: Ethical Implications to Nursing Practice
Patient confidentiality is a fundamental practice in healthcare and it is integral part of healthcare ethical standards (Purtilo & Dougherty, 2010). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics “the nurse has a duty to maintain confidentiality of all patient information” (Nursing world, p.6). Also, when a patient confidentiality is violated the nurse may risk their safety and welfare. There are a few exceptions to this obligation such as: an increase need to protect the patient and other parties or mandatory laws that protect public health (Nursing world, 2012). The dilemma disclosed in the article Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When is it okay to break confidentiality? Constitutes an ethical dilemma for the nurse caring for a teenage patient diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease as well as related cervical cancer. The nurse sooner or later has to notify the patient parents due to further treatment is needed and parental consent is required. The nurse also has to notify the patient’s school since it raises concern for public health issues. There are many compelling concerns presented in this article. First of all, if a patient’s confidentiality is betrayed the patient may not want to cooperate in the future with the healthcare team. The patient may decide he/she doesn’t want medical care period, so this could risk the treatment of the patient. Secondly, the nurses must show respect and dignity for the patient by honoring the patient’s privacy. Lastly, the sanctity of the nurse-patient relationship mandates maintaining confidentiality. The patient entrusts the medical professional with private and confidential information. The medical professional must be absolutely certain of the risks versus benefits when deciding to breach confidentiality (Nathanson, 2000).
Patient Confidentiality: Ethical Implications to Nursing Practice
Patient confidentiality is a fundamental practice in healthcare and it is integral part of healthcare ethical standards (Purtilo & Dougherty, 2010). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics “the nurse has a duty to maintain confidentiality of all patient information” (Nursing world, p.6). Also, when a patient confidentiality is violated the nurse may risk their safety and welfare. There are a few exceptions to this obligation such as: an increase need to protect the patient and other parties or mandatory laws that protect public health (Nursing world, 2012). The dilemma disclosed in the article Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When is it okay to break confidentiality? Constitutes an ethical dilemma for the nurse caring for a teenage patient diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease as well as related cervical cancer. The nurse sooner or later has to notify the patient parents due to further treatment is needed and parental consent is required. The nurse also has to notify the patient’s school since it raises concern for public health issues. There are many compelling concerns presented in this article. First of all, if a patient’s confidentiality is betrayed the patient may not want to cooperate in the future with the healthcare team. The patient may decide he/she doesn’t want medical care period, so this could risk the treatment of the patient. Secondly, the nurses must show respect and dignity for the patient by honoring the patient’s privacy. Lastly, the sanctity of the nurse-patient relationship mandates maintaining confidentiality. The patient entrusts the medical professional with private and confidential information. The medical professional must be absolutely certain of the risks versus benefits when deciding to breach confidentiality (Nathanson, 2000).
References: American Nurses Association Code of Ethics retrieved from Nursingworld (ANA website) available at http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics.pdf Lachman, V. (2010). Ethics, law, and policy. Clinical ethics committees: organizational support for ethical practice. MEDSURG Nursing, 19(6), 351-353. Nathanson, Pamela G., "Bioethics on NBC 's ER: Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When Is It Ok to Break Confidentiality?" (February 24, 2000) located at http://www.bioethics.net/articles.php?viewCat=7&articleId=133 Purtilo, Ruth M. & Doherty, Regina (2010). Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions [5] (Vital Source Bookshelf). Retrieved from http://pageburstls.elsevier.com/books/978-1-4377-0896-7/id/B9781437708967000126_f5010