3
Ethics, Cyber Ethics, and Security
In recent years, hackers have targeted medical records, from hospitals and other healthcare institutions, across the country. These records contain personal information, contact information, and most importantly, for the hackers, information that may prove useful in stealing an identity. Thus, healthcare organizations have made it a priority to protect patient records and privacy. However, with the influx of technological advancements and hacker determination, there is no perfect way to ensure that all records are secure and safe.
In addition to medical records, privacy concerns are relevant with any patient chart in any setting. For example, a chart left open on a computer monitor in a patient room, employee passwords and log-in information, and new employee access and screening all represent other ways in which ethics and security merge in healthcare and nursing practice.
For this Discussion, you will consider the importance of ethics as it relates to security. You will also reflect on how these topics might affect clinical practice and the connection to nursing informatics.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
· American Nurses Association. (2015).
Nursing informaticsLinks to an external site.
: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.).
· “Ethics in Nursing Informatics” (pp. 49–52)
· “Standard 6: “Evaluation” (p. 78)
· “Standard 7: “Ethics” (pp. 79–80)
· “Standard 11: “Communication” (p. 86)
· “Standard 12: “Leadership” (pp. 87–88)
· Beckmann, M., Dittmer, K., Jaschke, J., Karbach, U., Köberlein-Neu, J., Nocon, M., Rusniok, C., Wurster, F., & Pfaff, H. (2021).
Electronic patient record and its effects on social aspects of interprofessional collaboration and clinical workflows in hospitals (eCoCo): A mixed methods study protocolLinks to an external site..
BMC Health Services Research, 21 (377).
· Goodman K. W. (2020).
Ethics in health informaticsLinks to an external site..
Yearbook of Medical Informatics,
29(1), 26–31.
· TEDx Talks. (2023, July 7).
Navigating the AI future of health care | Benjamin Collins | TEDx Vanderbilt UniversityLinks to an external site.
[Video]. YouTube.
· Simplilearn. (2020, June 10).
Cyber security in 7 minutes |
What is cyber security: How it works? |
Cyber security |
Simplilearn Links to an external site.
[Video]. YouTube.
To Prepare
· Review the Learning Resources associated with the topics of ethics, cyber ethics, and security.
· Consider the role of each of these topics for clinical practice, as well as the importance of understanding each of these topics.
By Day 3 of Week 9
Post a cohesive response to the following:
· What are the key challenges that healthcare practitioners encounter when balancing patient care with the requirement for stringent data protection? How can healthcare organizations ensure patient confidentiality while effectively leveraging digital tools to enhance care delivery?
By Day 6 of Week 9
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and
respond to
at least two of your colleagues on
two different days by expanding upon their responses or sharing additional or alternative perspectives.
RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION POST
Latonya Bu
Main Post
Ethics, Cyber Ethics, and Security
The disclosure of private patient information can undermine public trust in the healthcare system, discouraging individuals from seeking necessary medical care (Algarni & Thayananthan, 2025). Ethical considerations are essential when implementing AI in healthcare to ensure that technology benefits all patients without creating new risks or worsening existing inequalities. Professional organizations and regulatory agencies can establish ethical frameworks to oversee patient health information and set rules for the responsible development and use of AI, promoting equitable access to AI-driven innovations. Emphasizing safety, security measures, and ethical guidelines helps stakeholders develop a healthcare system that utilizes AI responsibly and effectively, ultimately benefiting patients, enhancing quality of care, and safeguarding health information through digital technology (Mohsin Kahn et al., 2025). Healthcare organizations can uphold ethical standards and nurture a culture of accountability in AI deployment by positioning AI as a tool to support, not replace, human decision-making. Challenges related to breaches of trust, such as staff negligence or cyber-attacks, must be addressed to protect patient data and maintain confidence.
How can healthcare organizations ensure patient confidentiality while effectively leveraging digital tools to enhance care delivery?
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies creates both rewarding benefits and substantial risks to the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity (Algarni & Thayananthan, 2025). Secure data management procedures and strong governance frameworks help safeguard patient privacy and maintain public trust in digital health technologies. To prevent neglect and ensure patient safety, it is essential to establish clear norms and accountability procedures. AI in healthcare presents both opportunities and concerns regarding security and privacy. Digital health technologies offer numerous benefits to users and service providers, enabling them to lead healthier lives. Patient privacy violations, private and sensitive information leaks, and negligence are all important medical concerns. The growing demand for communication technology makes it easier to address cybersecurity solutions in digital healthcare (Algarni & Thayananthan, 2025). Ensuring the security and privacy of healthcare systems is crucial in the age of AI; yet, AI has significant potential for improving healthcare outcomes, increasing operational efficiency, and enhancing personalized treatment.
References
Algarni, A. M., & Thayananthan, V. (2025). Digital Health: The Cybersecurity for AI-Based Healthcare Communication.
IEEE Access, Access, IEEE,
13, 5858–5870.
to an external site.
Mohsin Khan, M., Shah, N., Shaikh, N., Thabet, A., alrabayah, T., & Belkhair, S. (2025). Towards secure and trusted AI in healthcare: A systematic review of emerging innovations and ethical challenges.
International Journal of Medical Informatics,
195.
to an external site.
