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Sep 10, 2026Medical Ethics: Patient Consent and Confidentiality
This 1-hour continuing education course provides laboratory professionals and other healthcare personnel with practical guidance on ethical responsibilities related to patient consent, confidentiality, and professional integrity. Participants will explore the principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice and apply them to common laboratory situations involving patient refusal, informed consent, HIPAA, protected health information (PHI), appropriate access to records, communication of results, professional boundaries, and error reporting.
Through practical examples and scenario based knowledge checks, learners will develop strategies for recognizing ethical concerns, protecting patient privacy, following organizational policies and regulatory requirements, and making appropriate decisions when ethical or confidentiality issues arise.
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What You’ll Learn?
Course Syllabus
Welcome!
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Accreditation Statement
Learning Objectives
Introduction
What Is Medical Ethics?
Why Ethics Matters in Laboratory Practice
Respecting Patient Rights
Respect for Autonomy
Principles of Informed Consent
What Is the Laboratory Professional’s Role?
Types of Consent
Written Consent
Verbal and Implied Consent
When a Patient Refuses Testing
Special Consent Situations
Communication and Health Literacy
Confidentiality
HIPAA and Patient Information
Protected Health Information
The Minimum Necessary Principle
Appropriate Access
Protecting Paper Records
Electronic Confidentiality
Password and Login Security
Mobile Devices and Remote Access
Verbal Confidentiality
Telephone Communication
Specimen Confidentiality
Laboratory Results
Releasing Results
Ethical Decision Making
Ethical Principles in Practice
Common Scenario: Unvalidated Result
Errors and Professional Responsibility
Confidentiality Breaches
Social Media and Professional Boundaries
Common Pitfalls and Red Flags
Professional Boundaries
Cultural and Individual Considerations
Ethical Resources and Support
Building an Ethical Culture
Ethical Decision Checklist
Scenario
Conclusion
References
Post-Test
Certification
Choose from a list of project topics or create your own project idea that incorporates all skills learned (e.g., a mini-banking system, personal expense tracker, or inventory manager).
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Tieso is a laboratory educator who loves helping laboratory professionals continue to learn, grow, and explore the ever-evolving world of laboratory science! With teaching experience in phlebotomy, Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science (CLS/MLS) programs, Dr. Tieso brings a mix of knowledge, real-world experience, and enthusiasm to continuing education. As an ASCP-certified professional licensed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Dr. Tieso understands the importance of quality, accuracy, and a little curiosity in the lab!
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