Study Guide for Fundamentals of Nursing Care: Concepts, Connections & Skills - Ethics, Law, and Delegation in Nursing Related

Review Study Guide for Fundamentals of Nursing Care: Concepts, Connections & Skills - Ethics, Law, and Delegation in Nursing related questions and content

Your patient has been newly diagnosed with AIDS. You are good friends with the patient's wife and feel that you should tell her so that she can be tested. Which of the following statement(s) is(are) true?

  • A. Because the wife is considered an immediate family member, it is permissible for you to discuss the patient's test results with her.
  • B. Failure to disclose the serious diagnosis to the wife could be considered negligence.
  • C. The patient must give permission for the AIDS test results to be disclosed to the wife.
  • D. Discussing the test results without the patient's permission is a breach of HIPAA.
Correct Answer: C,D

Rationale: HIPAA requires patient consent to disclose protected health information, including to family members. Unauthorized disclosure is a HIPAA violation.