Ethical Issues in Health Information Technology Essay

Ethical Issues in Health Information Technology - Essay Example Administrators have a responsibility to behave ethically and respect the confidentiality of the information they maintain, acquire, and use in their roles an organization agent (Berner, 2008). When administrators lose the privacy of confidential information, and the incapability to control how patient’s information is disclosed and used there are potential liabilities that he or she is susceptible to. If one violates the ethical principles, it does not imply automatically that he or she has violated the law. An individual’s actions are subjected to peer review to see whether his actions were justified. If not the individual will be subjected to the legal process where he or she can be charged with causing harm to the patient. Disclosing a patient’s confidential information without the proper procedure is wrong, and the employee may face the full force of the law. However, to minimize the risk that comes with disclosing confidential information the following procedures should be followed. First, the patient should be told the consequences or harm that may come with disclosing the information so be aware of them. Second, appropriate consent of the patient and the health care institution should be provided before disclosing confidential information. Additionally, confidential information can be disclosed without the patient’s consent when the law mandates or permits the procedure for a valid purpose (Layman, 2003). Layman, E. (2003). Health informatics: ethical issues. Health Care Manager, 22, 2–15. Retrieved from