Chapter 13 Exercise 1: Beside Each Situation Below Place A

Chapter 13 Exercise 1beside Each Situation Below Place A

Chapter 13 Exercise 1beside Each Situation Below Place A

Evaluate each scenario by determining whether the behavior is ethical or unethical and whether it constitutes a computer crime, using the ethical codes of conduct and information on computer crimes presented in the chapter. Provide your reasoning for each scenario to justify your evaluations.

Paper For Above instruction

In modern healthcare and academic settings, ethical conduct and legal compliance regarding the use of information technology are paramount. The scenarios presented highlight various dilemmas faced by individuals in healthcare and educational environments involving the misuse and mishandling of electronic information, which can have significant ethical and legal implications.

The first scenario involves John and Beth sharing a restricted online textbook account, which only allows one user. Although sharing passwords may not explicitly be illegal, it violates the terms of service of most digital educational resources and breaches ethical standards of honesty and integrity outlined by professional codes such as those from AHIMA (2016). Ethically, such sharing compromises fairness and transparency, even if legal repercussions are minimal.

In the second scenario, John and Beth consider selling the textbook and access credentials to another student, Robert. Selling access, especially to login credentials and digital resources, is unethical according to professional standards because it compromises system integrity and violates terms of use. It can be considered a form of computer crime, especially if it entails unauthorized sharing of access credentials (ACM, 2019). Furthermore, sharing or selling login information may violate laws related to cybersecurity and data privacy (HIPAA, 2013).

The third scenario concerns Susan asking Betty to assist with clinical assignment details without exchanging protected health information (PHI). Provided no PHI is shared or transmitted electronically, this action generally falls within acceptable academic collaboration. Nevertheless, care must be exercised to ensure confidentiality remains intact, aligning with HIPAA and ethical education standards (ANA, 2015).

Scenario four involves Betty trying to access patient information beyond her authorized scope, leading her to request help from Dr. H. Ple. The act of a healthcare professional securely printing and redacting sensitive data demonstrates adherence to privacy and confidentiality obligations. Dr. H. Ple’s prompt and proper action aligns with best practices to safeguard PHI, as outlined in HIPAA regulations (2013). Betty’s consultation with her instructor is ethical because it seeks guidance without compromising patient data.

James’s scenario involves witnessing Dr. Smith sharing her password with James to access sensitive patient information during a busy shift. Sharing passwords breaches institutional policies and violates laws like HIPAA, which mandates the protection of patient information (HHS, 2013). James’s compliance constitutes a computer crime and unethical behavior, as it involves unauthorized access to protected health records and breach of confidentiality.

In the case of Brian copying a graphic from another webpage, ethically, giving attribution by including a source link aligns with intellectual property rights and internet use standards (WIPO, 2018). Failing to provide credit could be viewed as copyright infringement, raising ethical concerns regarding plagiarism and unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

The seventh scenario discusses a research team accessing patient data post-IRB approval but before proper account procedures are completed. Utilizing hospital access for research purposes without adhering to established protocols violates both institutional policies and legal standards (HIPAA, 2013). This unauthorized access qualifies as a computer crime and is unethical, emphasizing the importance of following approved procedures to protect patient confidentiality.

Next, Terri’s attempt to use an online term paper without proper citation constitutes plagiarism, an ethical violation under academic integrity standards. Even with modifications, failure to credit the original author is unethical and can be considered a form of academic dishonesty and copyright infringement (Cohen, 2017).

Regarding Dr. Bob’s actions, waiting to acquire additional software licenses or using student accounts without permission involves ethical considerations related to software licensing agreements. If Dr. Bob intends to use student accounts for unauthorized access, it would be a breach of licensing terms and illegal. Conversely, using properly licensed software and licenses is ethical and legal (Software Freedom Conservancy, 2018).

James’s forwarding of a patient's email discussing symptoms, without explicit patient consent, raises privacy concerns. According to HIPAA, sharing PHI without permission constitutes a privacy breach unless it meets exceptions such as emergency care or patient authorization (HHS, 2013). Forwarding the email without consent is both unethical and potentially constitutes a computer crime under privacy laws.

Overall, these scenarios underscore the importance of understanding the interplay between ethical principles, legal statutes, and organizational policies concerning electronic data. Upholding these standards ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information, fostering trust in healthcare and educational environments (Barnes & Dawes, 2017). Adherence to ethical codes like those of AHIMA and compliance with laws such as HIPAA is essential for professionals working with electronic health records and digital resources.

References

  • American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). (2016). Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.ahima.org
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). (2013). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). (2019). Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Retrieved from https://www.acm.org
  • Cohen, D. (2017). Academic Integrity and Plagiarism. Journal of Education Ethics, 12(3), 45-52.
  • Software Freedom Conservancy. (2018). Licensing and Software Use. Retrieved from https://sfconservancy.org
  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). (2018). Copyright and Moral Rights. Retrieved from https://www.wipo.int
  • American Nurses Association (ANA). (2015). Nursing Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org
  • Health Information Privacy. (2015). Electronic Data Security. Journal of Healthcare Law, 20(4), 233-245.
  • Barnes, D., & Dawes, S. (2017). Data Privacy in Healthcare. Ethics & Information Technology, 19(2), 143-157.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST Special Publication 800-53. Retrieved from https://csrc.nist.gov/publications

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