VAP Shin Na-yeon

Nurse Shin Na-yeon introduces herself and the topic: nursing ethics, legal obligations and responsibilities, and information protection for new nurses. The learning objectives include understanding the functions and content of the Korean Nurses' Code of Ethics, legal responsibilities, and information protection in medical institutions.

The Code of Ethics serves as a guideline describing the essence and role of nursing, guiding nurses in ethical care. It formally declares nursing as an ethical profession and outlines moral norms, values, and social obligations for nurses. While not legally binding, it is revised periodically to adapt to changing times and environments, providing minimal guidance for applying to various situations.

The Code has been revised multiple times since 1966, with the most recent revision in 2013, adapting to societal, cultural, economic, and medical environmental changes and expanding nursing professional roles. The 4th revised code consists of an introduction and main discourse, divided into an ethical declaration, code of ethics, and ethical guidelines, covering topics like patient autonomy, nursing standards, justice, trust, and safety.

The ethical declaration emphasizes upholding human dignity and rights, promoting national health, maintaining professional honor and integrity, and performing duties faithfully. It explicitly states a commitment not to participate in unethical acts, particularly concerning bioethical technologies, and to strive for quality nursing care.

The Code advocates for equal care regardless of nationality, race, religion, or ideology, respecting individual patient needs, customs, and beliefs. It covers privacy protection, confidentiality, patient's right to know and self-determination, and the protection of vulnerable patients. Nurses are also responsible for safeguarding public health from social and environmental threats.

Nurses must adhere to nursing standards, performing duties based on established protocols rather than personal experience or custom, and taking responsibility for their critical judgments. Continuous education and research are essential for improving nursing practices. Nurses should contribute to policy improvements, maintain fairness and justice in their activities, and prioritize patient safety by minimizing risks. Maintaining personal health and professional dignity is also highlighted.

Nurses must observe ethical obligations when collaborating with other professionals and industries for patient and societal welfare. They must take appropriate action when patient health or safety is threatened. In the context of life science and technology, nurses are urged to critically assess and choose practices that uphold human dignity and safety, rather than passively following institutional directives.

The lecture includes practice questions to reinforce understanding of ethical guidelines, covering scenarios like hygiene management, substance use during duty, inappropriate patient contact, exploiting patients, and disregarding legal norms. Correct answers emphasize thorough hygiene, abstinence from impairing substances, avoiding sexual interactions, upholding human dignity, and adhering to laws.

More practice questions address ethical nuances such as respecting patient customs, exploiting patient weaknesses, personalized care, advocating for vulnerable individuals (e.g., undocumented immigrants), and basic care for patients on life support. The explanations clarify the importance of protecting vulnerable populations and providing basic care even when life support decisions are made.

The newly enacted Nursing Act, effective June 21, 2025, is discussed as a standalone law separate from the Medical Service Act. It aims to improve the supply and professionalism of nursing staff and enhance the quality of nursing services for public health. Key provisions include the transfer of nurse and specialized nurse licenses from the Medical Service Act, establishment of professional associations, mandatory education to prevent human rights violations against nursing personnel, and detailed standards for treatment support tasks.

The Medical Service Act (Articles 19 and 21) mandates strict confidentiality of patient information and regulates access to medical records. Nurses are prohibited from disclosing patient information learned during their duties and from allowing unauthorized access or reproduction of medical records. Patients have the right to request access to their records and explanations for any modifications.

The Medical Service Act (Articles 22 and 23) requires detailed, accurate, and signed documentation of medical actions. Medical institutions must preserve records of any amendments and their reasons. Healthcare professionals are forbidden from creating false or intentionally altered records. Electronic medical records are also subject to stringent regulations, prohibiting unauthorized access or disclosure of personal information and requiring the preservation of access logs for any record modifications.

Medical institutions implement comprehensive measures to protect patient and staff information under the Personal Information Protection Act. This includes processes for collecting, pseudonymizing, and providing personal information to third parties, as well as installing and operating video information processing devices. Institutions are committed to ensuring information security through administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. Policies on data retention, destruction, and public disclosure are in place, alongside measures to protect data subjects' rights.

The Personal Information Protection Act is a general law, while specific provisions in other laws, like the Medical Service Act, take precedence when applicable. For nursing documentation such as nursing records, the Medical Service Act's regulations on collecting, accessing, and providing personal information are prioritized. However, for issues not covered by the Medical Service Act, the Personal Information Protection Act applies, including regulations on video processing, data breach notifications, and dispute resolution.

Hospitals have strict policies against unauthorized recording of medical activities and sharing them on social media (YouTube, Instagram, blogs). Disclosing patient details, including those of acquaintances or celebrities, is strictly forbidden. Any actions that violate these policies, including exposing personal documents or files, can lead to disciplinary action, legal penalties, and claims for damages. Nurses are advised to exercise extreme caution with social media during work hours.

Medical institutions employ advanced systems for personal information encryption and leak prevention. These systems block unauthorized saving or transmission of sensitive patient data like resident registration numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account details, and phone numbers. The 'iPrivacy' program, requiring employee ID and password for computer access, is an example of such a system, ensuring data security and accountability.

With the rise of artificial intelligence, personal information collection methods and risk factors are diversifying, making information protection more challenging. The speaker emphasizes the need to continuously update nursing ethics and legal frameworks, such as the Personal Information Protection Act enforcement decree, to strengthen the rights of data subjects in an era of automated decision-making and AI.