A staff nurse overhears a health care professional use coercion to make a patient agree to participate in a research study. What should the staff nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Coercion involves the use of undue pressure, threats, or other forms of intimidation to force someone to do something they do not want to do. The use of coercion to obtain consent is a violation of ethical principles governing research involving human subjects. As a result, it is the responsibility of healthcare professionals to report any suspected instances of coercion to the appropriate authorities.
In this scenario, the best course of action for the staff nurse would be to contact the hospital's Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is responsible for overseeing and monitoring all research involving human subjects conducted at the hospital. They have the expertise and authority to investigate any allegations of coercion and take appropriate action to ensure the protection of the patient's rights and well-being.
Confronting the researcher with concerns or secretly tape-recording the interaction with the potential subject may not be the best course of action, as it could potentially compromise the investigation and violate the researcher's privacy rights. Documenting suspicions in the patient's medical record may also not be sufficient, as it does not ensure that the appropriate authorities are informed and able to take action.

A Staff Nurse Overhears a Health Care Professional Use Coercion