I am currently struggling getting my head round the following assignment. Looking for opinions / views / suggestions on how best to tackle the case scenario provided. PLEASE HELP....:imbar
A man in his 30's has been diagnosed with a malignant disease. He's requested that staff don't inform his partner of the diagnosis. His partner arrives and asks you (the student nurse) the results of the patients investigations.
Expore & discuss the professional, ethical and legal issues that arise from the scenario. (1750 word essay)
i say the same, just nice way inform pt's friend that you cannot give any closer info about pt condition and friend can talk to pt and refer him to pt's md. md should handle it too, that is his job. :)
I notice that the OP referenced the approach being based on the writer "as a student nurse," while the responses, which I thought were terrific, were about nurses in practice.
I'd have little idea about specifics of British legalities and ethics of communicating with patients' families as a student nurse, but if it is like the US, you are to say little or nothing beyond pleasantries, and to refer any and all questions to actual staff or to the patient him or herself.
The bottom line is, as students, we officially know nothing. Plus, we are practicing under the licenses of our instructors, and under the liability umbrella of the hospital or clinic where we are doing our clinicals.
I realize this is a non-answer, but perhaps it will point you in the right direction.
Are you studying ethics right now? If this was an essay for an ethics class, I would focus on the ethical concept of autonomy and how it forms the basis for confidentiality, and the right to be free from paternalism (e.g. nurses deciding who needs to know confidential information).
Alexandra s
4 Posts
A BIG THANKYOU to everyone who replied to my essay query....
Your input really helped me get started.....Here's hoping for a good grade
:wink2: