Principals of Patient Confidentiality Discussion

There are core confidentiality principles that are triggered when the issue of using photography in nursing and medical practice is used. Key among these are the principles of respecting the autonomy of the patient and, secondly, the confidentiality principle of non-maleficence. Focusing on the principle of non-maleficence, medical practitioners are tasked with demonstrating care and ensuring that they cause no harm to their patients during clinical care (Motloba, 2019). The use of photographs by nurse practitioners could potentially cause unintended harm when the photos come into the hands of unintended or malicious persons. Principals of Patient Confidentiality Discussion

If the nurse felt the necessity to nursing her personal smartphone to take photographs of the patient, there are two important measures she could take. Firstly, the nurse practitioner must inform the patient of the reason why they need to take the photographs and perhaps share them with a colleague or professional in the medical field. This, Berle (2004) notes, could be a form of consultation with the intention of improving the quality of the procedures for which the photos are taken. Secondly, informed consent must be in place. Motloba (2019) has explained that informed consent is a formally written note to elaborate to the patient the process and why it is important. This must be signed by both parties and kept safely to safeguard against future issues regarding the sharing of photos. Principals of Patient Confidentiality Discussion

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The organization policy that exists in the workplace where I practice would reveal that nurses and other clinical practitioners are required to minimize the use of smartphones when taking images of patients, if need be, they must have the requisite authority and must take two important measures. One, they must only use work-provided smartphones which must at all times be left in the custody of the administrator. Two, they must inform the customers fully of their intention and purpose of taking photos and sharing them with specific professionals for treatment and follow-up purposes.

References

Berle, I. (2004). The principles of ethical practice in professional clinical photography. Journal of Audiovisual Media in Medicine, 27(1), 11-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/01405110310001658897

Motloba, P. D. (2019). Non-maleficence-a disremembered moral obligation. South African Dental Journal, 74(1), 40-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2019/v74no1a7 Principals of Patient Confidentiality Discussion