Question

The parents of a hospitalized 10-year-old ask the nurse if they can review the health care records of their child. What is the appropriate response from the nurse?

a) "I will arrange access for you to review the record after you put your request in writing."
b) "No, the physician will not give you access to review the records."
c) "Are you questioning the care of your child?"
d) "Only the client has the right to review the health care records."

Answer 1

Parents generally have the right to access their minor children's medical records. Professionals need to balance parents’ rights with confidentiality, especially in sensitive matters like adolescent health. The nurse should typically arrange access to records after a formal request is made by the parents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate response to the parents of a hospitalized 10-year-old who want to review their child's health care records depends on the applicable laws and the hospital's policies. Generally, parents have the right to access their minor child's medical records, as minors are typically not considered competent to provide consent on their own behalf. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Parental Rights: Parents can usually give and provide consent for their children's medical treatment and access health records unless there is a law or policy stating otherwise.
• Confidential Health Care: There may be exceptions when dealing with sensitive issues such as adolescent sexual health, where the privacy of the minor could be considered, and specific policies are in place to address such scenarios.
• Balance of Interests: When developing policies, one must consider the costs of treatments and diagnoses, patient quality of life, and risks to individual privacy.
• Professional Judgment: Health care providers must exercise their professional judgment when balancing the right to privacy of a patient with the need to inform parents or guardians.
• HIPAA Rules: Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), there are guidelines about when protected health information may or may not be disclosed without consent, which includes provisions for minor patients.

Therefore, the nurse's correct response would likely be to arrange for access to the health records after a formal request is made, as in option a), "I will arrange access for you to review the record after you put your request in writing." This approach respects the legal rights of parents while still adhering to hospital policies and privacy laws.