Question

A nurse is caring for a client whose family member requests to view the client's medical record. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A) "I will ask the nursing supervisor to obtain the medical records for you."
B) "The health care provider will share this information with you."
C) "The ethics committee will need to approve this request for you."
D) "The client must provide permission to share the records with you."

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the family member that the client must provide permission before their medical records can be shared. This policy protects patient confidentiality as required by privacy laws like HIPAA.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a family member requests to view a client's medical record, the nurse should respond with, "The client must provide permission to share the records with you." This response aligns with privacy laws and regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which safeguards patient health records and personal information. It is crucial to ensure that the requested information is only shared with individuals that the client has authorized to view their medical records.

Before sharing any medical record, the healthcare provider must receive express consent from the patient unless there is a specific legal exception, such as the case of a court order or when the information is necessary for public health purposes. This consent often needs to be documented in writing. In situations where the patient lacks decision-making capacity, a legally authorized representative may have the right to access the information.