HESI General Chairside Assisting Practice Exam

Which ethical approach is best when dealing with patient's health history information?

1. Doing good?

2. Confidentiality?

3. Non-maleficence?

4. Autonomy?

The correct answer is: Doing good?

The concept of confidentiality is crucial when dealing with a patient's health history information. This ethical approach emphasizes the importance of protecting patient information from unauthorized access and ensuring that personal data is only shared with individuals who have a legitimate need to know. By maintaining confidentiality, healthcare professionals build trust with patients, encouraging open communication and honesty. This trust is essential for comprehensive care delivery, as patients are more likely to disclose sensitive information when they feel assured of its protection. While doing good, non-maleficence, and autonomy are significant ethical principles in healthcare, confidentiality specifically addresses the handling and safeguarding of patient information. Doing good focuses on promoting the well-being of the patient, non-maleficence emphasizes the duty to avoid causing harm, and autonomy respects the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care. However, these principles do not directly relate to the management of patient information like confidentiality does. Protecting patient health history is foundational to ethical practice in healthcare and upholding the principle of confidentiality is essential to maintaining that trust.