Introduction
This paper will be exploring a case study that involves an ethical issue surrounding HIV. The ethical situation involves a client who is HIV positive and the nurse realizes that the client has had a sexual relationship previously with a close friend. The nurse suspects that the friend is unaware that the client is HIV positive and is extremely concerned about it. Although the nurse is worried about the friend and wanting to inform them that their ex-girlfriend has tested positive for HIV in their clinic, the nurse has an ethical responsibility to maintain privacy and confidentiality of the client, making this an ethical issue. It also represents an ethical dilemma because privacy and confidentiality of the client are necessary but it is also the nurse’s best friend’s right to know that they may potentially have been exposed to HIV. As an ethical dilemma, there are also ethical principles that apply to this situation. More specifically, beneficence is the main ethical principle involved. Beneficence is defined as doing good towards others (Ross-Kerr & Wood, 2013, p. 85). The nurse needs to promote good for the client by providing the client with the appropriate patient teaching and information regarding their diagnosis. Promoting good also includes …show more content…
Similar to the CNO, maintaining privacy and confidentiality of the client is a CNA value that is very important (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008). Another CNA value that is important is promoting health and well-being (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008). This means that the nurse is going to do everything that they can to ensure that their client attains the best possible health outcomes (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008). While doing this, the nurse also wants to be certain that the friend is as healthy as possible, which would be achieved by informing the friend about the possibility of contracting
This paper will be exploring a case study that involves an ethical issue surrounding HIV. The ethical situation involves a client who is HIV positive and the nurse realizes that the client has had a sexual relationship previously with a close friend. The nurse suspects that the friend is unaware that the client is HIV positive and is extremely concerned about it. Although the nurse is worried about the friend and wanting to inform them that their ex-girlfriend has tested positive for HIV in their clinic, the nurse has an ethical responsibility to maintain privacy and confidentiality of the client, making this an ethical issue. It also represents an ethical dilemma because privacy and confidentiality of the client are necessary but it is also the nurse’s best friend’s right to know that they may potentially have been exposed to HIV. As an ethical dilemma, there are also ethical principles that apply to this situation. More specifically, beneficence is the main ethical principle involved. Beneficence is defined as doing good towards others (Ross-Kerr & Wood, 2013, p. 85). The nurse needs to promote good for the client by providing the client with the appropriate patient teaching and information regarding their diagnosis. Promoting good also includes …show more content…
Similar to the CNO, maintaining privacy and confidentiality of the client is a CNA value that is very important (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008). Another CNA value that is important is promoting health and well-being (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008). This means that the nurse is going to do everything that they can to ensure that their client attains the best possible health outcomes (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008). While doing this, the nurse also wants to be certain that the friend is as healthy as possible, which would be achieved by informing the friend about the possibility of contracting