Ethics Comittees, Code of Ethics, and Confidentiality

Question 1

What is “confidentiality”?

Answer 1

Ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorized to have access.

In ethics and law, some types of communication between a person and a professional are “privileged” and may not be discussed or divulged to third parties.

Question 2

What are three main sources of threats/challenges to confidentiality? (What forms of communication)

Answer 2

Electronic sources
Paper/people
Legislation

Question 3

What are some electronic sources that may be threats/challenges to confidentiality?

Answer 3

Fax, emails, computer screens, cameras

Question 4

What are some paper/people sources that may be threats/challenges to confidentiality?

Answer 4

Conferences, charts, cheat sheets, signs, labels

Question 5

What are some legislation sources that may be a threat/challenge to confidentiality?

Answer 5

Child, Family and Community Act
Adult Guardianship Act
Venereal Disease Act
Communicable Disease Regulations/Health Act

Question 6

How does the Child, Family and Community Act relate to confidentiality? (What circumstances are okay to break confidentiality)

Answer 6

Child, Family and Community Act gives you a duty to report child abuse, or any suspected harm to a minor. This act also lays out the information you are legally required to give to children and families before treatment.

Question 7

How does the Acult Guardianship Act relate to confidentiality? (What circumstances are okay to break confidentiality)

Answer 7

Adult Guardianship Act – if we have reason to believe that there is harm being done, then we have a duty to report that. This includes things like elder abuse, financial abuse, withholding medications, abuse or neglect, etc. You don’t actually have to disclose your own information to report this.

Question 8

How do the Venereal Disease Act and the Communicable Disease Regulations/Health Act relate to confidentiality? (What circumstances are okay to break confidentiality)

Answer 8

you are required to report this to public health, especially if they are refusing treatment. This concerns STI’s such as HIV AIDS, etc. as well as TB, typhoid, hepatitis B, etc. You need to inform the patient that you have a duty to report to public health if their tests come back positive.

Question 9

What does the CNA Code of Ethics have to say regarding confidentiality?

Answer 9

“Nurses recognize the importance of privacy and confidentiality and safeguard personal, family and community information obtained in the context of a professional relationship”

Question 10

What are the principles of confidentiality?

Answer 10

Autonomy, beneficence, justice, fidelity

Question 11

What are the values of confidentiality?

Answer 11

Trust, respect, integrity

Question 12

What does the CNA Code of Ethics have to say regarding consent?

Answer 12

“Consent is the deliberate and voluntary agreement to some act or purpose made by a capable individual”

(Promote and respect informed decision-making)

Question 13

What are three important aspects to informed consent?

Answer 13

Voluntary
Capacity
Comprehension

Question 14

What are the legal considerations regarding competence (related to informed consent)?

Answer 14

Demonstrates understanding of information and how the information applies to the patient’s own situation

Question 15

What are the ethical considerations regarding competence (related to informed consent)?

Answer 15

Personal values (sliding scale)
Influencing factors
Competency may vary

Question 16

What is interdisciplinary collaboration?

Answer 16

“Process through which parties who see different aspects of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible.”

Question 17

What is a benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration?

Answer 17

Advocate for practice settings that maximize the quality of health outcomes.

Question 18

What are the goals of interdisciplinary collaboration?

Answer 18

Supporting a climate of trust that sponsors openness, encourages questioning the status quo supports those who speak out.

Advocating for work environments in which nurses and others are treated with respect and support.

Seeking constructive and collaborative approaches to resolve differences.

Question 19

What is the purpose of ethics committees?

Answer 19

A forum for providing advice and education on ethical issues/problems in clinical practice.

Question 20

What are the functions of ethics committees?

Answer 20

Education to HCPs and members of the public.
Policy development/policy review.
Case consultation.

Question 21

What are some barriers to the functioning of ethics committes?

Answer 21

Homogeneous
Lack of mechanisms for self-evaluation
“Judicial” view of the decision-making process
Difficulty to get “buy-in” from management/stakeholders

Question 22

What is the difference between ethics committees and case consultants?

Answer 22

Ethics committes:
Administrative bodies whose primary task is to advise in creating institutional policy.

Case consultants: Responsible for patient care, recognized expert