Confidentiality Case Study

Confidentiality is an ethical principle that "demands nondisclosure of private or secret information about another person with which one is entrusted (Burkhardt, 2014, p.76). When does confidentiality become an issue between a patient and health care provider? This paper will discuss the case of Tarasoff vs. Regents of the University of California from 1976. This case was a turning point for the ethical duty to warn clause. In 1969, Prosenjit Poddar murdered Tatiana Tarasoff. Prior to the murder Poddar had expressed his plan to kill the victim to Dr. Lawrence Moore. Moore was a psychologist working at Cowell Memorial Hospital, a part of the University of California in Berkley where both Poddar and Tarasoff were students. Poddar had met Tarasoff
"Beneficent acts are morally and legally demanded by the professional role" (Burkhardt, 2014, p.69). There are three moral codes associated with beneficence: do good, prevent harm or remove harm. Professional nurse roles should promote these standards of safety for the patients and the public. Lastly, this case relates to nursing practice with mental health standards. In all aspects of nursing, patients with or without a mental health history, will come seeking care. For the professional nurse, it is a duty to identify and assist in helping that individual. This case could have been avoided by mandating the 72-hour psychiatric evaluation for Poddar. It was not, there was a lack of care that should have been received. Mental health screenings are important to nursing and other health care professionals. In conclusion, Tarasoff vs. Regents of the University of California became the case in point for "duty to warn" and implementing when to enact the principle of harm when it came to confidentiality. It is important for nurses and other health care professionals to understand this principle of harm and when to use it. Confidentiality is the base of a nurse and patient relationship, however, it is the professionals in this field 's job to protect not only patients but the