Confidentiality

Daisy is a nurse working on an orthopedic ward. She has established a rapport with a patient, Janine, who has been admitted under the orthopedic team for surgical repair of a fractured wrist. Janine told the consultant that her injuries were sustained falling down the stairs. However, during a chat with Daisy, Janine asks ‘is everything I tell you confidential?’. She then confides to Daisy that her husband has become increasingly violent and pushed her down the stairs. Daisy does not know if she should tell anyone.

• Who is owed a duty of confidentiality?
• In what circumstances can information be disclosed without consent of the patient?
• Should Daisy disclose the fact that Janine has suffered domestic abuse?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)

Source – Ethics Case Studies from Clinical Ethics and Law (Second Edition), Carolyn Johnston Penelope Bradbury