A registered nurse in the United States is caring for a patient who asks that the patient's diagnosis not be shared with the spouse. The patient has decision-making capacity and has not authorized disclosure. What should the nurse do?
Correct answer: B. Respect the patient's request and maintain confidentiality
- A. Share the diagnosis because the spouse is next of kin
- B. Respect the patient's request and maintain confidentiality
- C. Share the diagnosis if the spouse asks directly
- D. Ask another patient to explain the diagnosis instead
Explanation
A competent adult controls access to personal health information and may restrict disclosure to a spouse. HIPAA and professional confidentiality require the nurse to honor the patient's choice unless another legal basis for disclosure applies.
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About US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice
US nursing law and ethics include state nurse practice acts, scope of practice, standards of care, negligence, malpractice, documentation, confidentiality under HIPAA and informed consent. Ethical reasoning applies autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and fidelity to conflicts such as refusal of treatment, advance directives, privacy breaches and mandatory reporting, which are not the same as legal liability.
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