Patient Autonomy

[TGood]

A patient has a known overdose history for pain medication. She has since been put into a long term care program and receives pain managment both on a routine and prn basis. Her husband requested to give her the least amount of pain medication to keep her comfortable. She is constantly asking for medication. Is it wrong to inform her of her husbands request?

[runnergirl86, BSN, MSN]

If the husband is not the HPOA then not only does he not have a say in her medication, but if she has not given permission for him to be involved in her care then you are breaking her confidentiality by discussing it with him. Just a thought...