Legal Scope and Accountability Flashcards

A client requests access to their health record. Under which Canadian legislation is this right protected?

Answer: Provincial privacy legislation such as PHIPA (Ontario) or FOIPPA (British Columbia)

Provincial health privacy legislation (PHIPA in Ontario, FOIPPA in BC, HIA in Alberta) governs client rights to access their own health information.

A practical nurse realizes they made a medication error but the client experienced no harm. What is appropriate?

Answer: Complete an incident report, notify the charge nurse, assess the client, and notify the physician

All medication errors must be reported through the incident reporting system regardless of harm, for client safety and regulatory compliance.

Before witnessing a client's advance directive, what must the practical nurse ensure?

Answer: The client is competent, signing voluntarily, and understands the document

A witness must ensure the client has capacity, is signing voluntarily without pressure, and understands what they are signing.

A practical nurse recognizes a client as a famous Canadian public figure and sees their diagnosis in the chart. Which action is appropriate?

Answer: Review the chart only to the extent necessary for care and maintain confidentiality

All clients have equal privacy rights regardless of public status. The practical nurse must access only information necessary for care.

Which principle underpins the practical nurse's obligation to obtain informed consent?

Answer: Autonomy

Informed consent is fundamentally an expression of patient autonomy, the right to make informed decisions about one's own healthcare.

A practical nurse discovers they have HIV and is concerned about disclosure obligations to their employer. What is their primary obligation?

Answer: Following provincial occupational health guidelines and regulatory college standards regarding fitness to practice

Specific obligations are outlined in provincial regulatory college standards. Disclosure is context-dependent, not absolute.