Two family members were admitted in the hospital. First patient has been admitted due to CHF and on oxygen while the other patient is admitted due to car accident and requiring surgery. Health care team found out when a family member visited and told them

Two family members were admitted in the hospital. First patient has been admitted due to CHF and on oxygen while the other patient is admitted due to car accident and requiring surgery. Health care team found out when a family member visited and told them that the father has been in the hospital with the son now admitted in a different unit. Father is not doing well and oxygen saturation has been low and been monitored in the ICU. Son will undergo surgery as well as he is in critical condition. Family member insisted that both patients should be informed of the situation. Spouse, who came to visit, requested not to inform the father about the son’s accident and upcoming surgery. Nurse heard the spouse telling the patient that son is home and studying. Nurse is distraught, spoke to another family member to tell the father that son is at the hospital and is scheduled to have surgery Step 1: Determine whether the issue is an ethical dilemma.  Is this an ethical dilemma?  Clarify your knowledge base about clinical facts, review policy and procedures or standards of care to reveal any legal obligations that determine a course of action regardless of personal opinion.  Identify the actual moral issue.  Discuss why the issue is a dilemma by applying ethical principles and theories – what are the conflicting values? Step 2: Gather as much information as possible that is relevant to the case.  Information could include laboratory and test results, the clinical state of the client, and current literature about the diagnosis or condition of the client.  May also include investigation of the psychosocial concerns of the client, as well as those of their significant others.  List resources that you will use to help guide your actions (i.e. CNA code of ethics, CNO ethics, CNO professional standards, other CNO documents, etc.)