Compare Ethical Issues Of Confidentiality By Examining A Sce

Compare Ethical Issues Of Confidentiality By Examining A Scenario And

Compare ethical issues of confidentiality by examining a scenario and its implications of various regulations and laws. Address the assignment requirements using: Title: Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions Edition: 6th (2015) Author: Doherty, Regina and Purtilo, Ruth Publisher: Elsevier Science Book ISBN: The Story of Twyla Roberts and Mary Louis (p. 203) In a 3-5 page paper (excluding title page and reference list), address the following: Summarize the story briefly providing the ethical dilemma and parties involved. Discuss the varying perspectives from the parties involved. Be sure to discuss potential reasoning for the varied perspectives. Please note that you may need to include fictitious information to complete this. Discuss ethical standards relevant to the unique scenario. Identify national regulations and laws pertinent to the story. Using the six-step process, explain a practical, ethical solution to your story. Report your findings noting the following standards: Current APA formatting (e.g. title page, citations, conclusion, reference page, etc.) should be used. Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation are expected. Plagiarism Free, self-plagiarism, unoriginal work, and unattributed content is not permitted and will result in action pursuant to the University’s Plagiarism Policy and Procedures. Cite at least 3-5 scholarly sources as: Title: Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions Edition: 6th (2015) Author: Doherty, Regina and Purtilo, Ruth Publisher: Elsevier Science Book ISBN: Chapter 9: “Honoring Confidentiality†in the book Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions (6th ed.) Chapter 10: “Communication and Information Sharing†in the book Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions (6th ed.) Chapter 11: “Informed Consent in Treatment and Clinical Research†in the book Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions (6th ed.) American College of Healthcare Executives (2016). Health information confidentiality. Retrieved from College of Healthcare Executives (2017). ACHE Code of Ethics . Retrieved from United States Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Health information privacy . Retrieved from United States Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Summary of the HIPAA security rule . Retrieved from

Paper For Above instruction

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of ethical practice in healthcare, ensuring trust between patients and providers and safeguarding sensitive information. The ethical issues surrounding confidentiality become particularly complex when specific scenarios involve conflicting interests, legal obligations, and varying perceptions among stakeholders. This paper examines these ethical issues through the lens of a hypothetical scenario inspired by the narrative from Doherty and Purtilo’s "The Story of Twyla Roberts and Mary Louis," with an emphasis on confidentiality dilemmas, legislative context, and a practical six-step ethical decision-making process.

Summary of the Scenario and Ethical Dilemma

The scenario involves a healthcare provider, Dr. Jane, who is treating two patients: Twyla Roberts, a young woman with a diagnosed contagious disease, and Mary Louis, her mother, who is also her primary caregiver. The ethical dilemma emerges when Twyla’s condition potentially threatens public health, and Dr. Jane must decide whether to breach confidentiality to inform health authorities or to uphold patient confidentiality at the cost of public safety. The parties involved include Twyla, who values her privacy; Mary Louis, who is concerned for her daughter’s health and public safety; and public health officials tasked with controlling infectious disease outbreaks.

Perspectives and Reasoning of Involved Parties

Twyla’s perspective emphasizes her right to confidentiality, based on principles of autonomy and privacy. She fears social stigma and discrimination if her health status becomes public knowledge. Conversely, her mother, Mary Louis, views the disclosure as necessary to protect others and believes her daughter’s confidentiality should be subordinate to the greater good. Public health officials argue that transparency and timely communication are essential to prevent disease spread, especially under the mandates of laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and public health statutes. These divergent perspectives highlight the tension between individual rights and community safety, raising ethical questions about when confidentiality should give way to public health interests.

Relevant Ethical Standards and Regulations

The American Medical Association’s (AMA) Code of Medical Ethics emphasizes patient confidentiality but recognizes exceptions for public health concerns. The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides legal guidelines on safeguarding health information but allows disclosures without consent when required by law for public health activities. Additionally, the CDC’s guidelines endorse transparency during communicable disease outbreaks to protect community health. Ethical standards from the College of Healthcare Executives underscore the importance of confidentiality but also highlight the duty to protect the public from infectious diseases (ACHE, 2016). Lawful breach of confidentiality in public health emergencies is thus supported by both ethical standards and legislative frameworks to balance individual rights and societal safety.

Application of the Six-Step Ethical Decision-Making Process

Applying the six-step process involves: (1) recognizing the ethical issue—balancing confidentiality against public safety; (2) gathering relevant information—including laws, regulations, and clinical facts; (3) identifying stakeholders and their perspectives; (4) considering ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice; (5) exploring options—such as disclosure to health authorities or maintaining confidentiality; and (6) making a decision that aligns with ethical standards and legal requirements.

In this case, the most ethical course involves consulting legal guidelines and institutional policies. Since laws like HIPAA permit disclosures for public health reasons, Dr. Jane has an obligation to inform health authorities to prevent disease transmission while attempting to minimize breach of confidentiality. Communicating the rationale to Twyla, emphasizing the importance of public safety and her rights, can help mitigate ethical tension. This approach honors both legal mandates and ethical principles, promoting beneficence and justice while respecting autonomy as much as possible.

Conclusion

The ethical dilemma surrounding confidentiality in healthcare demands a nuanced approach balancing individual rights and societal well-being. Examining the scenario through ethical principles, legislative frameworks, and systematic decision-making reveals that disclosures for public health are justified under specific circumstances, provided patients are informed and their rights are respected as much as possible. Healthcare professionals must continuously navigate these legal and ethical boundaries, emphasizing transparency, informed consent, and adherence to professional standards to uphold patient trust and public safety.

References

• Doherty, R., & Purtilo, R. (2015). Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions (6th ed.). Elsevier.
• American College of Healthcare Executives. (2016). Healthcare ethics and confidentiality. Retrieved from https://www.ache.org/
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Health information privacy. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Summary of the HIPAA security rule. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/laws-regulations/index.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Principles of public health ethics. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(3), 63–66. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6903a1