Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

What ethical principle is violated if a nurse discloses a patient's confidential information without consent?

1. Autonomy

2. Beneficence

3. Justice

4. Confidentiality

The correct answer is: Confidentiality

The ethical principle that is violated when a nurse discloses a patient's confidential information without consent is confidentiality. Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of the nurse-patient relationship, rooted in trust that patients place in healthcare providers to safeguard their private information. When this trust is broken through unauthorized disclosure, it undermines the ethical responsibility of the nurse to protect the patient's privacy and respect their personal information. In the context of nursing practice, maintaining confidentiality is vital not only for ethical reasons but also for legal compliance. Laws such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) reinforce the requirement to keep patient information private. Violating this principle can result in legal repercussions for both the nurse and the healthcare institution. The other principles — autonomy, beneficence, and justice — while important in nursing ethics, do not directly address the specifics of disclosing patient information without consent. Autonomy focuses on respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions, beneficence emphasizes actions that promote the well-being of the patient, and justice pertains to fairness and equality in treatment. Thus, the most accurate answer specifically addressing the disclosure of confidential information is confidentiality.