A patient has just been told that she has the genetic markers for a severe type of breast cancer. After the patient meets with the physician, the patient's daughter asks the nurse, "What did the doctor tell my mother? She seems upset." What is the nurse's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maintaining privacy and confidentiality is of utmost importance during genetic testing and counseling. The patient (not the nurse or the physician) is the one who decides whether to include or exclude any family members from the discussion and from knowledge of the results of genetic testing. Telling the patient's daughter that you are "not allowed" to discuss the matter would cause more anxiety. Telling the daughter about the genetic markers would be a violation of the patient's privacy.

A Patient Has Just Been Told That She Has the Genetic