In a world increasingly involved with the digital realm, both in ones personal and professional life, there arises the need to address and assess the presence of medical professionals on-line. In recent years, this has become an increasingly popular platform to distribute user-generated content in the form of blogging, personal websites and social networking sites. In the medical profession, it is integral that a standard of professionalism is maintained in order to establish a comfortable and respectful environment for both the patient and the practitioner. Although there exists a number of benefits to the continually developing technologies, including increased ease of communication and interaction across the globe, it has become increasingly …show more content…
The basis of maintaining confidentiality involves ensuring that 'a patient or situation cannot be identified by the sum of information available' to third parties unless informed consent has been provided. It is both an ethical and legal obligation that has the potential to be breached due to the accessibility and widespread availability and proliferation of information online. This is particularly pertinent to medical students of today, who have developed 'ingrained communication habits' of which social networking is the primary means. The simple act of disclosing even the most non-specific details about a patients situation can be traced back via the vast connections between people on social networking sites, encroaching upon the very foundations of the doctor-patient relationship; trust. It is this characteristic that makes the patient feel at ease with sharing what is often very personal information that may prove to be critical in attending to their health. In this sense, the use of social media can not only hinder the trust between doctor and individual patient but also the trust invested in medical professionals by the community. This negative image may exacerbate prior fears of seeing a doctor, lead to complaints to medical authorities and even have legal consequences; ultimately impairing the ability to deliver effective …show more content…
Traditionally, care is taken in ones behaviour working in the community and now, with the emergence of social media, there exists an additional environment in which this care must be exercised. The posting of content, particularly of a defamatory nature, that can be viewed by a wide audience can have a detrimental effect on this image. As medical students, this can have severe consequences on their medical journey; affecting future interviews, clinical placements and applications for jobs due to this information being only a click away for employers. Such behaviour or blending of ones 'professional and social identities' can also alter the publics willingness to bestow trust in a medical professional and may cause patients to feel repulsed or uncomfortable due to the nature of the content posted. When asked about what content they considered inappropriate, some medical students of George Washington University 'felt nothing was inappropriate', suggesting that this is a prominent issue that needs to be addressed from the outset of medical
On October 27th of 1969, after returning home from a summer in Brazil, University of California at Berkley student, Tatiana Tarasoff was repeatedly stabbed and killed by a fellow classmate, Prosenjit Poddar. As tragic as the crime itself was, more tragic was the fact that it could have been prevented. Poddar had developed an unhealthy obsession with Miss Tarasoff during the year leading up to her death. Her continuous rejection of his advances sent him spiraling into a deep depression. He was encouraged by friends to seek treatment at the University’s student health center. During his course of therapy Poddar revealed to his counselor his intentions to kill Tatiana. Though the therapist did take steps to prevent the tragedy from occurring such as, asking for the weapon, calling campus security and requesting an emergency psychiatric evaluation, he failed to warn Tatiana herself, the intended victim. After her parents sued the University for negligence, the California Supreme Court ruled that “when a therapist determines, or should have determined, that a patient presents a serious danger of violence to another, the therapist then has a ‘duty to protect’ that third party” (Dimone & Fulero, 145-147). However, the Tarasoff doctrine is vague as written, given very little direction to practitioners in how to carry out their legal obligation while still remaining ethically responsibly to their client. A leading ethical challenge in the mental health profession today involves maintaining client confidentiality and protecting the public from harm (Corey Et Al, p. 230).
Confidentiality is a major topic within care environments. When it comes to deciding what information is shared and who it is shared amongst can be difficult. Confidential information, is information that is ‘not to be told to anyone’ (The Open University, 2015, p. 58). Information that is sensitive or not publicly known is confidential, also if information is given by a person who is in a setting where confidentially is expected then that information should remain private and not shared with others. It can be very difficult for a staff member to find the balance between knowing what information is confidential and appropriate information that needs to be shared between the staff team.
Employees within healthcare and anyone who has been a mature patient in recent years have been duly informed of the Health Insurance Privacy and Portability Act (HIPPA), but even more people are more intimately familiar with the social networking site Facebook. Prior to researching the legal and ethical boundaries at it pertains to patient confidentiality in nursing school, many of us thought little of the HIPPA concept and how it applies to each of us as individuals. We can announce to the world on Facebook that I have a lump, please go get a mammogram! We can whine on for ages about our children’s medical problems. We make announcements and call for prayers for our spouses and parents who are ill. We share with our friends and family, sometimes things we should not share. This is not about Facebook; its essence is respecting others privacy and refusing to participate in activity that may divulge private medical information about anyone. Crossing that line, making clear the intent to become a part of the health care sector, changes your responsibility toward identifying information regarding a person other than yourself, and that information dies with you or there can be harsh consequences.
Registered nurse (Gemma) received a call from the patient's wife (Lucinda) to ask her about her husband's condition and ongoing treatment details, like patient (Salvatore) treatment details, just to find further information about her husband's diagnosis on the internet. There is a breach of a patient's privacy and confidentiality if Gemma shares the information. Nurses are able to communicate about patient-related information with other health professionals via social media or other means of technology, i.e. telephone calls, in regards to patient care. However, this type of technology often leads to a breach of patient privacy and confidentiality (Berman et. al, 2015,
In the modern era, the use of computer technology is very important. Back in the day people only used handwriting on the pieces of paper to save all documents, either in general documents or medical records. Now this medical field is using a computer to kept all medical records or other personnel info. Patient's records may be maintained on databases, so that quick searches can be made. But, even if the computer is very important, the facility must remain always in control all the information they store in a computer. This is because to avoid individuals who do not have a right to the patient's information.
Irony and symbolism are tools used in writing to convey individual messages throughout the story. It is Edgar Allan Poe’s intense use of symbolism and irony throughout the Cask of Amontillado that gives this short story its suspense and horror filled theme.
As I mention in a privacy post privacy and security of patients records is the main reason social media can be an issue in Healthcare facilities. The breach of patients privacy and security are some of the major negative affect that technology has already has on healthcare. Their is a greater possibility that patients information can be hacked or be exposed easily by people (healthcare workers/providers) through technology (social media)
Every patient that is admitted to hospital, or seen by a health professional has a right to his or her own privacy, and it is through ensuring professional boundaries are upheld that this basic right can be achieved. According to Levett-Jones and Bourgeois (2011, pp. 237) confidentiality is an obligation made by a professional to respect the information given by a patient to healthcare professional. In this modern age, privacy can be hard as society relies on technology as a form of communication, allowing for information to be more readily available. However, by posting on Facebook about a patient or informing a friend, the trust created in a therapeutic relationship is breach and is called a boundary crossing. Thompson (2010, pp.26) understands that “At times, boundary crossing may be unintentional, but emphasizes th...
This assessment will address the potential and risk assessment of using social media in health care. Furthermore, it will address the policies and guidelines which all nurses are expected to adhere.
Medical records and their contents have been an important issue concerning privacy for physicians and their patients. A health care reform bill which passed legislation in 1996 is known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) had a new rule put into place in 2000, which requires health care physicians and insurance providers to put into place new procedures that would guard patient health information ("Patient Privacy and Confidentiality", 2013).
There is a great importance and focus in modelling a contemporary nurse. The framework for improving this focus is accountability with three main areas: professional, ethical, legal. They all cross over and interlink with each other in many of the topics that are raised within the profession. The approach of the framework were inevitable to reduces to blame and defensive nursing attitude. This attitude can lead to nurses believing accountability is the same as blaming a professional however it is conversely nurses making decisions for individuals and engaging to improve better health outcomes. The topic around this contemporary approach is confidentiality and broken into the principles of the approach.
Smart phones and social media in the health care field presents opportunities and growth advancement but also comes with many consequences and challenges. Health care organizations have regulated the use of smartphones and posting confidential information on social media such as HIPPA, which have laws intact if violated these laws may lead to termination or fines. The patient’s privacy and confidentiality is important when creating such policies, to maximize work efficiency and to create a safe environment. Furthermore, health care staff need to ensure that their patient care standards aren’t compromised by the use of these devices or social media postings.
Doctor patient confidentiality, is a fundamental element of the practice of medicine. Patients can expect that doctors and their support staff will hold confidential information about them in confidence, unless the release of the information is required by law or for public interest reasons. Ensuring confidentiality is retained allows doctors to examine their patients and receive all relevant information about their condition without a worry of judgement or sharing of the information.
Upon the advent of social networking websites, an entirely new level of self-expression was formed. People instantly share updates on their lives with family, friends, and colleagues, reconnecting with those they had lost contact with. Social networking has now become an integral part of contemporary society – a modern analog for catching up with friends over slow, conventional methods or finding upcoming events in newspapers. However, along with this freedom of information, the danger of revealing too much personal information has become apparent. As such, online social media poses an imminent danger to society as it blurs the line between private and public information, creating an obsession with sharing one’s personal life online.
When caring for a patient, every step is taken to ensure optimal service is given in order to prevent any breach in patient right. The Magna Carta of Patient’s Bill of Rights and Obligations dictates the guidelines to be followed and ensures that equal care is given to every patient and at the same time empowers the patient to take action if any of his/her rights has been breached. One of these rights is the Right to Privacy and Confidentiality which states that “The privacy of the patients must beassured at all stages of his treatment. The patient has the right to be free from unwarranted public exposure”. According to Department of Health (DOH) 2008 in the UK, Privacy and dignity is embedded in the care delivered to patients, as well as in the