A radiology care nurse’s endeavor to bring forth the ethical sharing of patients’ sensitive information: A report from a nursing ethics class

Abstract

Nurses often face ethical issues in their practice, but in many cases they find it difficult to act on these issues. Ethics education assists nurses to think through ethical quandaries and to proceed with the appropriate action. This paper reports on a nurse’s ethical concerns and the actions needed to create a better practice. In a master’s course in nursing ethics, a student who practiced outpatient radiology care expressed concern that patients’ sensitive information (e.g., diagnostic images that reveal private body parts) was routinely shared with third parties without their consent. The ethics professor suggested that the student explore her concerns by examining themes that included relevant ethical and legal concepts. The student concluded that the sharing of patients’ sensitive information with third parties lacking their consent is neither ethically nor legally justified. The student has gained confidence so that she can take action to safeguard the patients’ sensitive information.