Ethics: Confidential Patient Information and Justification of Lie - Research Paper Example

Chapter 6: Discussion Question: If a nursing is found to be discussing confidential patient information in a public space, such as the cafeteria, what should the penalties be ANSWER: Confidentiality is an important issue linked to patient privacy. It is important for the health care provider to protect the trusting relationships between patients. Nurses are in general intimately involved with patient care, including access to the patients' medical records. And it is very essential to maintain confidentiality. If a nurse or a nursing student is found to be discussing patient information in the cafeteria or any other public place, my first duty will be to inform her or remind her the rules of confidentiality. Besides, such practice of discussing patient information in public places would result in the complete trust of the patient on the entire health care staff. Hence, I will advice the nurse of the nursing staff to be more responsible by maintaining confidentiality and comply with the hospital rules. It is also important for me to discuss the issue with the nursing instructor as they will determine the penalty for such issues. For the first time the penalty for the student would be to read the policy about confidentiality and signed the form. By signing the form the student comes in agreement to maintain confidentiality and if not followed serious action may be taken. The nursing instructor may also decide to take special counseling sessions with the individual student or a general class for all the student nurses and warn them of the eventualities if not followed. CHAPTER 7: Discussion Question: Ask a family or friend if she ever lied to another friend or family member If so, what reasons did she provide to justify the lie ANSWER: I spoke to one of my cousin and asked her if she had taken the support of a lie at any point of time. She shared about a vehicular accident that took place in her life. She had to hide this fact from her husband and said to her husband that she had sprained her leg while walking. She justified her telling lie because if she had mentioned the truth, her husband would have unnecessarily worried at all times when ever she took her vehicle out. Besides, she said that she loved her husband so much that she did not want to share her pain and put him in tension. She is doing it out of her love and sometime she is doing it to hide her pain. In my view, there is no exact absolute truth that may work in subjects like science and math, but this is not the case in human society where psychology, sociology and humanities are involved. There are so many dynamics situations that surround us that our views on certain aspect may differ from others and I feel that this makes each human unique in this world. Chapter 8 Discussion Question: Your patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. His family asks that he not be told his diagnosis, and the physician agrees not to tell him at this time. During his morning care, he tells you that he thinks he is not being told everything. a) What do you say to him, and why b) Do you believe he has the right to know c) Do you believe his family is making decisions for him in his best interests d) Ask a staff nurse in your clinical setting how she or he would handle a situation like this. ANSWER: First of all I will ask the patient what makes him think that he is not being told everything. I will try to make the patient comfortable by reinstalling the faith in him that the health care team is doing their best to help him recover fast and can be only possible if he has a 100 per cent faith. This faith is of utmost importance for any treatment to be successful. I would appreciate the patient because he/she found me to be a confidential person to share their sincere feeling. I will further encourage them to share their feelings to whom-so-ever they feel comfortable with and if they have any doubt about the treatment or the illness to enquire with the authorities such as the doctor. This kind of attitude helps in bringing out any kind of negative feelings in the patient and helps the doctors to increase their hope in life. In fact it is my sincere feeling that a patient needs to know his diagnosis. The doctor is obligated to tell the diagnosis to the patient. The patient is in capacity to make his own decision at this time and that knowing his diagnosis right away will give him time to think what's best for him. Considering the time what is left for him, the patient's time is gold. Hiding information from him will not make the situation better. I believed the family is making the decision in his best interest. When the family is requesting to hide the facts about the illness, it should be noted that it is an emotional decision and that may not help in a long run. However, if the patient is mentally fit it is always better to make the facts available to the patient and discuss the treatment process and making him to understand about it. Family may take a decision if the patient is not in a position to take a decision. When I asked one of my senior nurses regarding this situation and how they would handle it, most of them said that since nurses are having a close association with the patient than the doctor who treats them, it is very important for them to increase the confidence of the patient towards the health care team and also the family who is supporting them. It might also be important to inform the feelings of a patient to the doctor in private so that the doctors may take additional steps to increase the confidence of the patient in the treatment. CHAPTER 16: Discussion Question: Identify the ethical rationale supporting and negating the routing mandatory testing of all nurses for HIV and hepatitis B virus ANSWER: Mandatory testing for HIV and Hepatitis B virus supports the safety of the patient. Patient safety relies mainly on the hands of the nurses. Patients trust the nurses as they keep them from harm and prevent them form endangering there health. The nurses will also be aware and will be more careful in handling situation like intravenous or blood exposure. This is the main rationale for making the HIV and hepatitis B virus a mandatory subject. Read More