Administrative ethics - Essay Example

Administrative Ethics The issues of protection of rights of patients pertinent to ensuring privacy and confidentiality have continued to pervade various health care institutions globally. In the United States, the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) addresses patient confidentiality and protects patients and their medical records, including current and past medical treatment and past medical records, in addition to billing records” (Finkelstein, 2007, 3). In this regard, after finding an issue pertinent to patient confidentiality, the essay aims to achieve the following objectives, to wit: (1) to describe the issue and its impact on the population it affects most, (2) to determine the arguments or facts used in the article to support the proposed solution, (3) to identify the ethical and legal issues reported for the administrative issue, (4) to explain the managerial responsibilities related to administrative ethical issues, and if none were stated, to state what should have been done, and finally, (5) to identify any proposed solutions. . The nurse approached the patient in the perioperative waiting area before the surgery and asked what procedure she was undergoing” (1).

As a consequence, the nurse’s action dealt with the utmost penalty of firing her from employment because of breach of confidentiality. The decision precludes other nurses and health care practitioners from repeating the same offense. The gravity of the issue was addressed by severing the employment from the health care institution to show other health care practitioners that there is no compromise to the issue. The issue’s impact on health care practitioners focused on giving primary importance and utmost care in adhering to the laws and regulations prescribed by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), specifically on the protection of patient privacy rights.

Arguments Supporting the Solution As revealed by Mehnke (2010), there were standard operating procedures followed by the nurse’s superiors upon presentation of the issue for evaluation. As mentioned, “the nurse’s manager contacted human resources, the nursing administrator, and the legal department for advice and guidance on the best way to investigate the issue. The manager met with the nurse involved to discuss the confidentiality breach” (1). Legal and ethical issues were addressed with proper decorum and observance of protocols.

Only after the proper channels were advised would a full investigation of the case be implemented. Preliminary actions institute corrective measures to the nurse for infractions committed. As averred by Mehnke (2010), “after careful consideration and in accordance with the corrective action policy, the nurse was