Ethical Problem: Family and Friends: Should I tell

Steps

Information

What is the ethical question?

Should Mary provide the information her mother

asked about the neighbor? Should Mary provide
the information to her best friend about her
fiancees medical status?

What are the facts?

Known

To be gathered

The neighbor is
hospitalized due
to abuse by her
husband.

Is Mary obligated to
report any of her
findings about the
neighbor? Due to the
fact she may need
help?

The fiance has

been diagnosed
with HIV, and Mary Is Mary obligated to
report her findings
does not believe
about the fiance, due
her friend knows.
to the fact her friends
health could be in
The fiance has
jeopardy and she
drug abuse
doesnt know it?
reported in his
medical history.
Should Mary speak
directly to the
neighbor herself and
offer help?
What are the values?

Patient- Value their privacy and confidentiality

as it relates to their medical records.
HIM Professional- Values the protection of the
patients privacy. Must follow the policies and
procedures and recognize the legal issues that
would occur if information was shared.
Healthcare Professionals- Values protection of
privacy and confidentiality of their patients.

Administrators- Values privacy and

confidentiality and the ramifications on an
institution if these values were not held up.
Society- Values knowing that their medical
records are in safe hands with all professionals
that will handle it.
What are the options?

Mary could report to her mom what she found

out about the neighbor being abused.
Mary could report to her best friend what she
learned about her fiance.
Mary could confront the neighbor and/ or
fiance herself.
Mary could keep all the information to herself,
as she has sworn to do.

What should Mary do?

She should keep all information to herself, as

she has sworn to do.

What justifies my choice?

Ethical/Justified
The AHIMA Code of
Ethics, Principle 1.1
states:
Safeguard all
confidential patient
information to
include, but not
limited to, personal,
health, financial,
genetic, and outcome
information.
And in 1.4:

Not Ethical/Not
Justified
Divulging any
information Mary
discovered while
conducting her
professional duties, is a
breach of the Code of
Ethics and not justified.

Protect the
confidentiality of all
information obtained
in the course of
professional service.

How could this ethical problem have been

prevented?

Better education of the HIM students, could

have made certain that Mary did not even
question that divulging patient information was
an option.
Mary should make it clear to her
mother that she cannot and will not
give out patient information to
unauthorized persons.