Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice
Soniya , RN
Grand Canyon University: NRS 437V
Professor: Teresa Ortner, RNC, MSNEd
December 11, 2012

Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice
When patient seeks for assist and care, professional-patient relationship is established and the promise of confidentiality is incriminated automatically. Respecting confidentiality is the professional commitment. Yet occasionally unavoidable situations bring health care profession to face nothing but the alternative choices which ends up breaching the confidentiality. The author would like to discuss one’s professional position regarding the ethical implications of a breach of confidentiality, ethical theories and principles, identify alternatives, and ethics committee’s approach in resolving ethical dilemma.
Ethical Implications of a Breach of Confidentiality
The medical profession has an obligation to live up to the patient's expectations of privacy and to earn the trust. By breaching confidentiality, patients no longer disclose honest and full information to medical professionals, or even initiate avoidance of seeking future care. Without trusting medical professionals, it is hard to expect for patients to reveal private and intimate nature of the information which could be vital in treatment decision. It means breaching confidentiality not only denies individual privacy but also prevents the autonomy of patient (Nathanson, 2000). Who would volunteer the info when he or she sees it is against to self by revealing them? Confidentiality violations could be potentially disastrous.
Nonetheless, there are certain occasions as an exception in which it may be necessary to breach confidentiality without patients’ consent and act against their trust. Those occasions are when higher obligations are threatened by keeping the confidentiality. In this case, the breach typically