TY - JOUR
T1 - Decision-making processes of a nurse working in mental health, regarding disclosure of confidential personal health information of a patient assessed as posing a risk
AU - Conlon, Darren
AU - Raeburn, Toby
AU - Wand, Timothy
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: Nurses working in mental health routinely face difficult decisions regarding confidentiality and disclosure of patient information. There is public interest in protecting patient confidentiality, and there is a competing public interest in disclosing relevant confidential information to protect the patient or others from harm. However, inappropriate disclosures may constitute a breach of confidentiality. Despite the gravity of this situation, there is a paucity of literature to guide nurses’ decision-making processes regarding confidentiality and disclosure. Aim: To examine decision-making processes of a nurse working in mental health, regarding disclosure of personal health information of a patient assessed as posing a risk. Methods: Qualitative interpretivist approach using thematic analysis of data derived from an instrumental case study of NK v Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service 2010, a Civil and Administrative Tribunal matter in New South Wales, Australia. Findings: Three important legal concerns relevant to nurses’ decision-making processes are illuminated. Firstly, for risk assessment there was an emphasis on a static notion of dangerousness. Secondly, rules of confidentiality and disclosure were not adequately observed. Thirdly, confidential information was disclosed without valid justification. Discussion: Inappropriate decision-making processes that may lead to a breach of patient confidentiality were evident in the findings. Gaps in understanding nurses’ decision-making processes pertaining to confidentiality and disclosure of patient information that may be addressed by future research were also revealed. Conclusion: Future research that addresses gaps in understanding nurses’ decision-making processes identified by this instrumental case study would provide greater guidance for nurses when making decisions regarding confidentiality and disclosure related to risk.
AB - Background: Nurses working in mental health routinely face difficult decisions regarding confidentiality and disclosure of patient information. There is public interest in protecting patient confidentiality, and there is a competing public interest in disclosing relevant confidential information to protect the patient or others from harm. However, inappropriate disclosures may constitute a breach of confidentiality. Despite the gravity of this situation, there is a paucity of literature to guide nurses’ decision-making processes regarding confidentiality and disclosure. Aim: To examine decision-making processes of a nurse working in mental health, regarding disclosure of personal health information of a patient assessed as posing a risk. Methods: Qualitative interpretivist approach using thematic analysis of data derived from an instrumental case study of NK v Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service 2010, a Civil and Administrative Tribunal matter in New South Wales, Australia. Findings: Three important legal concerns relevant to nurses’ decision-making processes are illuminated. Firstly, for risk assessment there was an emphasis on a static notion of dangerousness. Secondly, rules of confidentiality and disclosure were not adequately observed. Thirdly, confidential information was disclosed without valid justification. Discussion: Inappropriate decision-making processes that may lead to a breach of patient confidentiality were evident in the findings. Gaps in understanding nurses’ decision-making processes pertaining to confidentiality and disclosure of patient information that may be addressed by future research were also revealed. Conclusion: Future research that addresses gaps in understanding nurses’ decision-making processes identified by this instrumental case study would provide greater guidance for nurses when making decisions regarding confidentiality and disclosure related to risk.
KW - confidential communications
KW - psychiatric nursing
KW - recidivism
KW - risk assessment
KW - self, mutilation
KW - sex crimes
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:57969
U2 - 10.1016/j.colegn.2020.08.010
DO - 10.1016/j.colegn.2020.08.010
M3 - Article
SN - 1322-7696
VL - 28
SP - 261
EP - 267
JO - Collegian
JF - Collegian
IS - 3
ER -