Patient Ethical Dilemma

Making decisions based on ethical principles are often plagued with dilemma. No matter the outcome, someone will be unhappy. I do not think there is a right or wrong decision in this matter, however, the manner in which a resolution is attained can seem unjust. Based on HIPPA, all patient information should be kept strictly confidential.

This issue would be a difficult decision for me to make, as a person I would most likely want to tell my sister, as well as break up the relationship that she has with the patient. However, as a healthcare provider, I am obligated by law to uphold my patient’s private information. There in essence lies the dilemma. The nurse working at the AIDS clinic has all moral obligation to the patient to protect their health and confidentiality. The nurse should indicate to her brother-in-law that he should inform his spouse of his disease as he is putting her at risk. This action, based on Deontology is

I would persuade, if not force her, to get tested after informing her of issues that a HIV patient can be plagued with. I would also try to teach her about not being able to see the signs and symptoms of AIDS. I would covertly ask her if she knows anything about her boyfriend’s health history, tell her that both of them should be tested and they should share the result with each other. Of course, my ultimate motive is to get my sister to be aware of her boyfriend’s health and to rid her of that drama. I believe that this action would be based on consequentialism, which according to newworldencyclopedia.org (2013), “is the moral rightness of an action in terms of the consequences it ensues. However, consequentialism has problems accounting for intuitions concerning justice and rights, the existence of special obligations, and a distinction between what is morally required and morally