Several ethical dilemmas have come up with the advancements in technology and the research on medicine. “Nurses therefore need to understand ethical theories so that they will know how to deal with the ethical dilemmas (Scutchfield, C. D. & Keck). ” For example when the brain is dead and a patient is being kept alive under life support. Here, nurses need to act the with regards to the best interests of their patients. A. Relate the principle of confidentiality to the concept of reasonable limits
Confidentiality means not disclosing patient information. The concept of reasonable limits states that people in this case nurses’ should act in a way that they think is right and which is acceptable. The concept of reasonable limits therefore sees that nurses should always act within certain boundaries. This means that they should keep patient matters confidential and only break it when there have concrete reasons to support their actions. i. The elements of the principle of confidentiality
Confidentiality refers to the rights that patients have to make sure that any information with regard to their health is not given to anyone without their consent. When nurses respect the patient’s right s to privacy, then they enhance the confidence in them to provide proper care and trust in the organization. Breaking confidentiality is a very serious issue as patients will feel betrayed and they can sue the nurses. “The privacy and confidentiality of patient information is not only an ethical but also a legal issue (Chitty, 2004).
” The relationship between a nurse and his/her patient is special because there are duties and obligations on the part of the nurse towards the patient that they must fulfill and do them efficiently (Rumbold, 1999). The elements of the nurse patient relationship are: Trustworthiness and dignity, problem solving measures and autonomy and responsibility. Trustworthiness Trust is the feeling of being able to rely on someone else to keep matters between or among you private and without doubting them.
Trusting someone else involves risk and vulnerability but it also fosters open therapeutic communication and enhances the expressions of feelings, thoughts and needs (Crisp, Potter, Perry & Taylor, 2005). Nurses therefore need to be trust worthy individuals as this enhances integrity, openness and transparency which make communication between them and the patients much easier as this enhances their good relationship. Autonomy and responsibility
Autonomy is the ability of individuals to self-direct so that they can accomplish their duties towards others. Nurses who are autonomous take responsibility for their own thoughts, feelings and behavior. Through this element, they are able to know what is right and what is wrong such that they will treat patients with the same measure of respect as they would like to be treated. “Since maintaining confidentiality is a sign of respect and the hallmark of professional behavior (Crisp, Potter, Perry & Taylor, 2005). ”