1. Explain the ethical implications of a breach of confidentiality. The ethical consequences of a breach of confidentiality can actually have a considerable effect on both the patient and the nurse and create ethical dilemmas. Information disclosure can occasion problems on a legal, professional and personal level (Marquis & Huston, 2009).
In nursing, the ethical requirement for confidentiality is very important, because of the need to set up mutual trust between patients and nurses. When this association is created the patient would be at ease discussing personal issues like their sex life as well as other matters considered taboo only if they are certain that their information would not be disclosed to other people. In short, several ethical implications arise as a result of breaching of confidentiality, for instance the loss of patient respect and trust, responsibility as well as noncompliance from the patients when they feel betrayed as well as accountability issues as the nurse usually is accountable to the profession, self, patient, community and institution. Nonetheless, situations do occur where the nurse will meet ethical dilemmas and is compelled to breach the confidentiality of patients.
2. Provide ethical theories and/or ethical principles (from among those introduced in your readings) to substantiate your position. Privacy of patients: according to American Nurses Association (2005) a nurse can encounter varied situations, as well as several diverse patients in her ordinary duty and each patient, has some specific rights, which must be observed in both legal and ethical terms. Whilst the legal rules regarding the patient’s rights are often restricted by the local legislations, the ethical standards concerning the rights of patients go as far as requesting the nurses not only to advocate, but also promote the patients’ rights to their best level. Of all the varied rights accorded to patients, privacy comes first as it is linked to one of the essentials of nursing profession-confidentiality. Informed consent: According to American NursesAssociation (2005) kids are not recognized by both the law and ethics as having similar entitlement to privacy as adults.
The Essay on Patient Privacy And Confidentiality
Patient Privacy and Confidentiality Are the laws that govern patient privacy and confidentiality made at the federal and/or state level? While some of the states have their own laws that govern some elements of patient privacy and confidentiality, the primary source of regulation is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that was enacted at the federal level by the US Congress ...
With this, physicians are supposed to involve their parents in decisions regarding their children’s medical treatment (Butts & Rich, 2012).
However, only maturing adolescents have some rights to privacy as well as entitlement to make decisions regarding their treatment. For instance, in Illinois, kids aged twelve and above may be given treatment in regard to STIs and even drug use without parental consent. In nursing, as it has already been mentioned, the ethical necessity for confidentiality is associated with the need to set up an association of mutual trust between patents and medical practitioners.
3. Identify a reasonable alternative to address the dilemma presented in the article using a framework of ethical decision making presented in lecture or in your readings. Explain the significance of applying this framework. An alternative to address the dilemma would be a six step process used in confidentiality situations. That is: first, identify the facts relevant in the situation, second, establish whether the situation involves ethical or legal issues, third, identify the options, fourth, evaluate the options, fifth, choose the best option and sixth, implement the decision. The first step is aimed at finding out precisely what and who is involved or who you are dealing with, whether is a power of lawyer seeking medical rights? Or whether it is the patient who is in an abusive situation? The second step seeks to establish whether the particular being taken has ever caused harm to someone; also it seeks to establish if the action will contravene existing laws.
The Term Paper on Values And Ethical Decision-Making At Apple, Inc.
Values and Ethical Decision-Making Compared with Apple, Inc. The values people choose and the ethical decisions they make in business will be an important part of their business experience. The way in which values and ethical decision-making are practiced compared to that of Apple, Inc. will be the focus of the following information. Furthermore, Team C will compare and contrast the values and ...
Step three serves to identify the advantages and disadvantages of every decision. Step four aims to find out if the decision is or is not likely to place the patient in a more risky situation. After evaluation, step five helps the physician to choose the best reasonable decision that is not likely to invite legal or ethical questions. Step six, on the other hand, involves measures to be undertaken in case the action does not work as intended, also, this step aims to establish who is supposed to know and who is not supposed to know. In general, the key significance of applying this framework is to avoid violating the law, professional ethics and rights of patients.
4. Explain how an ethics committee might approach the dilemma using ethical theories, principles, and a collaborative approach to ethical decision making Various ethical theories indicate that individuals must be respected as the key figures in decisions impacting their life choices. According to American Nurses Association (2005) one way of doing so is by respecting the confidentiality or privacy of medical information: in spite of the consequences, it is always essential to respect the manner in which a patient wants his or her information to be maintained confidential. This is basically respecting the dignity of patients, and not a social end (Butts & Rich, 2012).
Since the most tempting reason for disclosure is to achieve some general good, even with this at hand, the ethical committee, based on the law and ethical code, will indicate, nevertheless, that a strong assumption of confidentiality must be adhered to in health care relationships.
References
AmericanNursesAssociation. (2005).
Code of ethics for medical practitioners with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org/American Nurses Association. Butts, J., & Rich, K. (2012).
Nursing ethics: across the program and into practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Marquis, B., & Huston, C. (2009).
The Essay on Six step decision model
Every business needs to make decisions. Some decisions are minor, and others can be million dollar decisions. These decisions need to made with knowing all possible outcomes and knowing the risk and if its worth taking. Businesses today use different models and processes to decide what’s best for the company. The six step model process, has six steps that should help a decision maker make the most ...
Leadership roles as well as management functions in nursing: Application and theory. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. file:///C:/DOCUME~1/paul/LOCALS~1/Temp/articles.php.htm.
