Shandra, a senior completing her professional practice experience at St. James Medical Center, broke patient confidentiality. During her lunch breaks, she overheard rumors that Henri Pioche, the Director of Respiratory Therapy, had been diagnosed with cancer. When her fiancé Andre asked if the rumors were true, Shandra accessed Pioche's medical records without authorization and saw that he had recently undergone testing, confirming the rumors. This breach of confidentiality violated ethics codes and Pioche questioned the Director of Health Information Management about who accessed his records, leading to Shandra admitting what she had done.
2. FINAL LESSON BEFORE GRADUATION
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Shandra
Senior in her final semester with 4.00 grade
Health Information Management (HIM) program
Final courses
Health information management
Organization management theories
Professional practice experience
Health Insurance Portability and account specialist after graduation
Complete her professional experience at St. James Medical center and try to
cover the position available
Andre, Shandra fiancé
Andre – Assistant Director of Respiratory Therapy at St. James Medical center
Henri Pioche- Director of Respiratory Therapy
3. SUMMARIZE THE SITUATION
Sandra completed all her assigned task during the professional practice experience at St.
James Medical Center. Where she became really close with many staff members in the HIM
department and in other areas of the facility. She also enjoyed lunch and break time with her
fiancé and his friend for the hospital. During break and lunch time Sandra heard a variety of
conversation among hospital staff and sometimes they would discuss interdepartmental
issues and random time they would gossip about the hospital staff and physicians. But one
day the conversation was focused on a rumor around Henri Pioche, that had been diagnosed
with some kind of malignant condition and brain metastasis (cancer that metastasized to the
brain from another location in the body). Sandra and her fiancé Andre took their afternoon
break alone to talk about the rumor that is around Pioche. Andre was so curious to make sure
about the rumor because it depended of his medical condition of Pioche he can be the next
Director. When she come back for break she pull up Pioche’s records and saw that he had
recently had a series of outpatient test at the facility and tell Andre that all rumors are right.
So next Andre show approach to Pioche in regards to his illness. Pioche denied the illness
and be concerned about Andre confident, so he contact the Director of Health Information
management to investigate who may have had access to his health record. Everything showed
that the last person that had access to his health records was Shandra, so the Director of
Information Management questioned Shandra about the dilemma about broking the health
information of Director Pioche. Shandra decide to be honest and admitted that she had
looked to see if whether the rumors were true.
4. IDENTIFY THE ETHICAL CODE DILEMMA
• The ethical dilemma is that Shandra going to the personal health record of
Henri Pioche.(She broke the confidentiality)
• AMA’s code of medical ethics
• Option 5.07: Confidentiality: computer
* section 2 and section 4
• Option 5.075: Confidentiality: Disclosure of records to Data collection
companies
5. IMPLEMENTING THE LEAST INTRUSIVE INTERVENTION
• Explain her why she is on trouble?
• Help to understand the ethics values and how she can apply in her future
• Explain her the importance to have ethics and values in her live as well in
the professional area.