Assume you are a medical assistant in a busy clinic and you have prepared an influenza vaccination to administer to an elderly patient. You drop the syringe, but no one sees you. It will take precious time to replace the syringe, and you are already behind. In fact, an impatient physician is calling for immediate assistance with a child’s physical exam. What will you do?
Despite the fact that you are behind, the patient’s welfare comes first, and you must maintain proper procedure. To avoid infecting the patient with a contaminated needle or syringe, you must take the time to replace the needle, syringe, and its contents.
A clinic co-worker offers to share intimate information with you from a patient’s medical record. The patient is an acquaintance, but you are not involved in caring for him or filing insurance claims for him, and you have no reason to learn health information about him. What will you do?
You must honor the patient’s right to confidentiality by declining your co-worker’s offer.
