Patients have to be the focus of every health care worker. This is because the patients are not only the customers and provide the income for the medical businesses, but also because the services provided to patients deal with life versus death or quality of life. To keep the focus on patients, many laws, regulations, and rules—including ethical codes of conduct—have been created to guide caregivers and other medical employees.
For this discussion prompt, complete an Internet search to research a current case where a violation of patients’ rights is at the forefront of the case. Post the link to the case, and explain why there is a violation of patients’ rights. Be sure to cite from your readings and research and explain in detail the specifics of violation.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Patient rights violations are a serious concern in the field of healthcare as they can lead to negative consequences for patients’ health and well-being. As a medical professional, it is essential to be well-informed about such cases, so that we can ensure that patient rights are protected and prioritize their well-being above all else.
Answer:
A recent case of violation of patients’ rights is the breach of confidentiality disclosed by the Electronic Health Record system at Atrium Health. According to the investigation conducted by Atrium Health, it was discovered that the records of over 2.65 million patients were accessible to unauthorized users through a misconfigured database of the EHR system.
This violation of patients’ rights involves privacy and confidentiality, which is a fundamental right of every patient. The breach of confidentiality is in direct violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) created to protect individuals’ privacy and personal health records. The regulation stipulates that healthcare providers must safeguard the privacy of patients’ identifiable health information.
Patients who visited Atrium Health’s facilities were victims of this breach because their personal information became public knowledge. The patients’ names, social security numbers, medical diagnoses, and other sensitive information were potentially available to people outside of the organization. This violation could negatively impact patients’ ability to access affordable healthcare in the future, and cause harm to their reputation and self-esteem.
In conclusion, it is important for healthcare providers to prioritize patient confidentiality and privacy. Adequate measures must be taken to prevent the breach of patient information and safeguard their right to privacy. Healthcare providers must remain vigilant and knowledgeable about regulations like HIPAA and continue to put patients’ rights and needs first.
