Why Do Nurses Right To Breach Confidentiality?

In this discussion board, I am able to share my point of view and clinical experience on a specific topic with my classmates. The purpose of this post is to discuss the patients right to “privacy and confidentiality” and the nurses right to breach confidentiality in certain circumstances. I will also explain my answers to the case study questions on “Making the Best Choice” in our Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing book. The terms privacy and confidentiality relate to one another. Privacy is defined as one’s right to keep personal matters unknown to others. Confidentiality is the ability to keep certain information private (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p. 76). Nurses must maintain patients’ confidentiality to promote moral respect in

Lora requested birth control at a clinic and the nurse practitioner noticed signs of physical abuse. Lora admitted being physically abused by her biological father and sexually abused by her step father. Lora requested confidentiality because she does not want her biological father to get in trouble which means she would have to move back home to her sexually abusing step father. The nurse practitioner has to make a decision whether to break confidentiality and report the child abuse or follow both codes of ethics and federal law to maintain confidentiality (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p. 77).

The principles involved are the patient’s right to confidentiality and privacy. Lora has the right to choose who her private information is revealed to. Maintaining confidentiality is a federal law and is included in the code of ethics for the nurse to follow. It is also a state law for the nurse to report child abuse. The nurse practitioner has to make a decision whether to breach confidentiality for the patient’s safety or maintain

A breach in confidentiality can result in revealing unwanted information, which might threaten the privacy of a person. Therefore, Lora may feel betrayed and lose that nurse-patient relationship. The nurse will be following the state law to report physical abuse on a minor. Reporting the child abuse may prevent Lora from further harm from her household. The nurse must explain her reasons why she is obligated to break confidentiality to Lora. If the nurse decides to maintain the seventeen year old confidentiality, the nurse would gain her trust. This can lead into trouble because Lora is a minor; therefore she is considered a vulnerable patient. Also, Lora’s life may be in danger if the nurse maintains