Final answer:
As a healthcare professional, you must uphold patient confidentiality and cannot discuss specific details about a patient's injury or treatment with anyone, including family members, without the patient's permission. The appropriate response to the cousin's mother is to suggest she speak directly with her son about his condition and treatment options.
Step-by-step explanation:
Professional Ethics in Health Care Communication
When approached by a family member about a patient's medical information, it's important to remember the confidentiality obligations inherent in the healthcare profession. If your cousin's mother asks about the injury and treatment of her son, who is your patient, you must adhere to patient confidentiality guidelines. In such a scenario, you are not able to discuss any specific details about his condition, progress, or treatment with her unless your cousin has given explicit permission to do so.
Yes, it is indeed a complex situation given the family connections, but being a healthcare professional, it is of utmost importance to respect the privacy of your patient. In cases where a patient is being treated for a sports-related injury, an orthopedist specializing in sports medicine may suggest various treatment options, ranging from exercise to surgery, and sometimes including the use of a brace to support the injured area, as depicted in Figure 6.4 from the reference. However, this information can only be shared with the patient or individuals the patient has authorized to receive such information.
The most appropriate response to the cousin's mother would simply be to encourage her to discuss the injury and treatment options, including the question about the knee brace, directly with her son. You can reassure her that her son is receiving professional care and that he can share information with her as he sees fit.