Applying Ethical Framework in Practice
Using "Bioethics on NBC's ER: Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When Is It Ok to Break Confidentiality?," write a paper of 750-1,000 words in which you describe your professional position regarding patient confidentiality. Explain the ethical implications of a breach of confidentiality. Provide ethical theories and/or ethical principles (from among those introduced in your readings) to substantiate your position. 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. Explain how an ethics committee might approach the dilemma using ethical theories, principles, and a collaborative approach to ethical decision making. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin. Analysis of issue is comprehensive. Explores confidentiality with global perspective, identifying underlying relationships between stakeholders and among socially constructed systems. Appropriately identifies own position on issue, drawing support from lecture content, experience, and information beyond assigned sources. Integrates ethical theory and/or principle to substantiate position. Integrates decision-making framework in a complex process of judgment and justification with comprehensive discussion of implications for each alternative identified. Clearly articulates significance of framework with a thorough discussion of strengths and limitations. Qualifies role and limitations of ethics committees in influencing the outcome of ethical decision making. Addresses the diverse perspectives drawn from a collaborative approach to problem solving. Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive; contained within the thesis is the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
Applying Ethical Framework in Practice
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Applying Ethical Framework in Practice
Pamela G. Nathanson in her article, "Bioethics on NBC's ER: Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When Is It Ok to Break Confidentiality?" (Nathanson, 2000) explains the case of a nurse Carol Hathaway who is facing an ethical dilemma. Two students in their teens come to her with a medical condition that is private and personal. Andrea has tested positive with HPV and cervical cancer. She does not want her parents to know and nurse Hathaway promises not to disclose this to any of the parents no matter the reason. The nurse is also convinced by the results and data that cervical cancer can be treated. The problem is the treatment cannot be undertaken without the parent's knowledge. Her dilemma worsens when she shares the information with an ER physician. The physician insists on the school authorities too being involved; Andrea confessed that she had been going to sex parties and having more than one partner. The nurse is in a state of ethical dilemma (Nathanson, 2000).
Breach in confidentiality
Disclosing a patient's personal information which should be treated as private is known as breach in confidentiality. This has impacts on the patient as well as the nurse. The impact can cut across all levels; professional, legal and even personal level. It is necessary that patients be comfortable to share their problems with the nurse if they are to be helped. Only when the patient trusts and is comfortable with the nurse to keep the shared information undisclosed will this happen. The surety of confidentiality makes it easy for a patient and a nurse to build a mutual trust (Masters, 2014).
When this mutual trust is broken the impacts are seldom unfelt. The patient will feel betrayed and as a result losses trust and respect for the nurse, becomes uncooperative and irresponsible. The nurse too has a cross to bear; The relationship between the nurse and the patient crumbles. His/her professional expertise is questioned both by the community and the institution. The nurse also has self to reconcile with. Though breach in confidentiality is unacceptable legally, ethically and morally, there are occasions which leave the nurse with no option but to b...