Confidentiality

Question 1

What are the common law justification for breaking confidentiality?

Answer 1

+ With the patient’s consent
+ Unable to seek the patient’s consent but in the patient’s best interests
+ In the public interest

Question 2

What is meant by public interest?

Answer 2

+ Risk must be REAL and SERIOUS
+ Risk must be of PHYSICAL HARM
+ IDENTIFIABLE individual(s)
+ Disclosure must only be on NEED-TO-KNOW basis

Question 3

For what situations is there a statutory requirement for disclosure of confidential information?

Answer 3

\+ Criminal cases
\+ Public health reasons
\+ Abortions
\+ Births & deaths
\+ Road traffic offences
\+ Fertility treatment
\+ Venereal diseases (limited)
\+ Suspicion of child abuse
\+ Terrorism