Nursing care and the invasion of patients' privacy: an ethical and moral issue

Authors

  • Jussara Simone Lenzi Pupulim Universidade Estadual de Maringá; Departamento de Enfermagem
  • Namie Okino Sawada Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692002000300018

Keywords:

privacy, nursing care, nursing ethics

Abstract

Nurses constantly invade patients' intimacy and privacy when delivering nursing care; however, they rarely discuss the aspects involving such issue. Nursing literature on this theme is scarce, which has motivated the development of this study with the purpose to sensitize nurses as to the relevance of and need for reflection on this matter. Ethical, legal and moral questions that permeate the invasion of privacy are pointed out, thus showing the responsibilities of nursing professionals. The actions of Committees of Ethics in Research as well as those of Nursing Ethics Committees in Organizations are discussed as mechanisms for the control and protection of individuals, mainly approaching the conduct and attitudes of nurses in the care-giving process. This study emphasizes the need for discussions and reevaluations of the roles of such mechanisms and of the quality in nursing care, since protection to patients' privacy is still deficient.

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Published

2002-06-01

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2002)

Section

Updating Articles

License

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 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Pupulim, J. S. L., & Sawada, N. O. (2002). Nursing care and the invasion of patients’ privacy: an ethical and moral issue. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 10(3), 433-438. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692002000300018