Promoting the health of individuals
I would inform the police or relevant authorities about the possible danger to the child’s life after seeking permission to disclose confidential information from the institution’s appropriate authority. Besides, I may arrange for hospitalization of the husband so that he receives counseling and guidance and other care away from the family as a way of discharging the duty to warn. In this way, he may not find an opportunity to harm his children or wife. I understand that under ethical standards and going back to the times of the Roman Hippocratic Oath, a healthcare professional must always ensure maximum confidentiality regarding the health information that I obtain from my patients. However, according to the codified state and federal law and ethical values concerning such situations and my responsibility as a health promoter, I believe that disclosing such information would benefit more than harm. My work as a healthcare provider is to promote life and wellness in the community. Ensuring this requires that I strive to identify factors that threaten the communities’ health and liaise with other healthcare team and other relevant authorities to eliminate such factors or exploit it to benefit the community. I view the possibility of the violent husband harming his child as factors that threaten the child’s life, which I should strive to protect and promote. Promoting the health of individuals mandates that the individuals are kept safe first from potential harm then applying the Pender’s health promotion model to modify the behavior specific actions, an individual characteristic that motivates them to do such harmful acts. Besides, applying the utilitarianism ethical principle, a healthcare provider should ensure that which results in the greatest pleasure to many people. Failing to report such incidence may expose the innocent child to battery and harm for their father’s interest, which is against the utilitarianism theory. Nursing practice is governed by regulatory bodies, including the nursing bodies, federal and state regulations, and institutional policies. If my action to disclose such information complies with all these regulations, and I am convinced that it is right according to my professional ethics and personal instinct, then I will go ahead to report the issue to the police to take action which will protect the child as we help modify the husband’s motivating factors and behaviors. This will result in promoting the lives of both the husband, the child, and the whole family, which is my primary objective as a healthcare provider.
Delaware is among the states that have established a duty to warn. According to Delaware law, by a healthcare provider accepting the responsibility to care for a client particularly those undergoing mental health treatment, such a provider also owe a duty to protect others close to the client from possible harm in case there is adequate information showing that the client is threatening a third party. In other words, the healthcare provider assumes a mandatory duty to warn, meaning that failure to do so is negligence that is legally and ethically wrong.
However, Delaware law requires a healthcare provider to first seek permission to disclose such confidential information before taking the actions. The professional presents the issue to relevant authority detailing how the client may be of harm to those near him or her presenting evidence supporting the same before being allowed to disclose such information to a third party. Lastly, according to Delaware law, describe how a healthcare provider should discharge the duty to warn. It provides that the healthcare provider can notify the law enforcement and the victim or can arrange so that the patient is hospitalized as a way to discharge the duty to warn.