Ethical Healthcare Issue of Doctor-Patient Relationship Based on Privacy and Confidentiality of a Patient
The issue of confidentially on the doctor-patient relationship is very essential in healthcare. Doctors are required to observe privacy and confidentiality whenever they diagnose and treat patients in line with data collected and information provided by the patient. Thus, it is important that doctors realize the need to enhance their relationship with their patients to ensure patients communicate their concerns, symptoms, beliefs, and experience along with their expectations on the treatment procedures (Beltran-Aroca et al., 2016). In that regard, the following aspects emphasize the reasons for seeking support from the legislator on maintaining the confidentiality of patients by doctors.
Importance of Seeking Legislator’s Vote
- The legislator should support the confidentiality of patients to enhance their privacy, autonomy, and dignity (Beltran-Aroca et al., 2016). Thus, the need to support the confidentiality of patients applies throughout their treatment process and extends after demise.
- Confidentiality of patients is also an essential element in medical ethics (Beltran-Aroca et al., 2016). Thus, the legislator should support confidentiality to enforce the rights of a patient and to sensitize doctors as their moral duty.
- The use of the patient’s confidentially not only safeguard the patients but also protect the interest of the public. Thus, maintaining the privacy of a patient protect other people from harm.
Implications for the Nursing Profession and Patients
Nurses who observe the confidentiality of patients work smoothly with their patients throughout the treatment process (Beltran-Aroca et al., 2016). Besides, the health care facility receives a high number of patients out of the confidence of the patient. The implication on patients is that they can share sensitive information with doctors and nurses to assist in the diagnosis and treatment process.
Recommendations
- I recommend healthcare facilities to collect data and information from the patients with ultimate care and store it in a secure system. Many healthcare facilities are using a traditional filing system that exposes patient’s data to access by unauthorized parties.
- I recommend the legislator to support patient’s confidentiality by enforcing thorough healthcare policies and privacy agreements that are mutual to both the patients and healthcare providers.