Confidentiality
Abstract
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Confidentiality Amy Wysoker, RN, CS, NPP, PhD April 2001APNA Web site: www.apna.org 57 Despite recent strides to decrease the public's negative views of mental illness, the stigma of mental illness unfortunately continues. The confidentiality of psychiatric patients takes on added meaning because of this stigma. That psychiatric treat- ment was rendered may in itself cre- ate problems in the public's eyes. Thus, psychiatric nurses must not only be diligent in keeping patients' information confidential, but also the mere fact that treatment was indeed sought. Confidentiality is our ethical and legal responsibility. Generally, treatment records and statements made to physicians or therapists are confidential. This is based on the notion that a person's health is an intimate matter and is no one else's business (Levy & Rubenstein, 1996). The American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics (1985) outlines the profession's eth- ical responsibilities for confidential- ity, and, in many states, the patient's right to confidentiality is specified in their nurse practice acts.It is important for nurses to be aware of situations in which jeopar- dizing the patient's right to confi- dentiality may be an issue (Levy & Rubenstein, 1996). Family members or significant