Subtitle: Guide for nurses and health care support workers on next of kin issues
Publisher: Royal College of Nursing
Date of Publication: May 2016
Country: UK
Pages: 12
Many health care professionals will only discuss a patient’s issues with the ‘next of kin’. This is often unofficially presumed to mean a blood relative or heterosexual spouse. For day-today care of clients without a registered partner or spouse, the patient’s or client’s wishes in their choice of nominated person should be respected. With regard to matters of consent to treatment for those unable to freely provide it, you should seek advice from your employers. The underlying rule must be to always act in the patient’s best interest.
