Question Description
I’m working on a nursing discussion question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
Autonomy essentially means to be in control of your own medical decisions and it is a patient’s most basic right. As such, it is a healthcare worker’s responsibility to respect the autonomy of their patients. However, at times this can be difficult because it can conflict with the utilitarianism principle of protecting most people in the community. Do HIV and AIDS patients lose their rights for confidentiality? How can public health officials do their duty in protecting the public, and at the same time, respect the autonomy of the patient?
