Question

In December 2010, a senior nursing student in Kansas City was photographed in a hospital laboratory dangling a human placenta over a surgical tray. Both the student and 4 of her classmates thought this would make a good picture to post on their Facebook pages. They mentioned it "in passing" to their instructor who according to the students "really didn't say much". When the college Dean learned of this issue, the 4 students involved were immediately suspended from the nursing program. With only one semester remaining before their graduations, one of the students filed a lawsuit to be immediately re-instated. What are the ethical forces at play in this situation? What other forces might need to be considered in this situation? Did the punishment "fit the crime"? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The main ethical force in this situation are

• Making an organ or part of the body of another person by the nursing student in a social website which is public to all affecting the privacy of the patient
• Termination of the student just prior to a semester

The other forces are

• The emotions of the nursing students for their termination
• The loss of skills to be used in the career

It is a firm form of non disciplinary action by the student revealing patient confidentiality .It is related to HIPAA violation. Violation of HIPAA laws is a crime and make them eligible for a punishment.