Confidentiality Flashcards
Does confidentiality still apply after death?
Yes
What is the risk to the pharmacy profession if confidentiality is not maintained?
Damage to public trust
Damage to the confidence in the pharmacy profession and other healthcare professions
What is a Duty of Confidentiality?
Pharmacy professional have a professional and legal duty to keep confidential the information they gain during the course of their professional practice
When does the duty of confidentiality arise?
When one person discloses information to another in circumstances where it is reasonable to expect the information will be held in confidence.
Applies to all information that the pharmacy professionals obtain during the course of their practice
What type of information is regarded as confidential?
- electronic and hard copy data
- Personal data
- Information about a persons medication (prescribed and non-prescribed) - Other information about a person’s medical history, treatment or care that could identify them
- Information that people share that is not strictly medical in nature but that the person disclosing it would expect to be kept confidential
What is not regarded a confidential information?
- Anonymous information from which individuals cannot reasonably be identified
- Coded information from which individuals cannot reasonably be identified but which enables information about different people receiving care to be distinguished
- Information that id already legitimately in the public domain
How can pharmacists protect confidential information?
- Protect the confidentiality of information they receive, access, store, send or destroy
- Prevent accidental disclosure of confidential information
- Access confidential information and records only as part of providing treatment and care for a person, or for another permitted purpose
- Raise concerns with the person who is responsible for data control if any security of personal information is not appropriate
- Store confidential information securely
- Not leaves confidential information where it may be seen or accessed by unauthorised people
- Not discuss information that can identify people receiving care if the discussion s can be overheard or seen by others not involved in their care
- Not disclose infomation online that could identify a person
When can information be disclosed?
- If there is consent of the person under their care
- Has to disclose by law
- It is in the interest of the public
What must a pharmacist do before disclosing any information?
Ensure that any disclosure being asked for is appropriate and meets the legal requirements covering confidentiality.
How should a pharmacist disclose information?
- Code the information or make it anonymous if they do not need to identify the person receiving care
- Get the persons consent
- Disclose only the information needed for the particular r purpose
- Make appropriate records to
- Be prepared to justify the decisions and any actions taken
Disclosures required by law are allowed to be released to:
- The police or another enforcement, prosecuting or regulatory authority
- GPhC or GMC
- NHS counter fraud investigation officer
- A coroner, judge or relevant court orders that the information should be disclosed
Do organisations such as the police or GPhC have an automatic right to access all confidential information?
No, they must have a legitimate reason for requesting the information
When is it “in public interest” to disclose confidentiality information?
- To prevent a serious crime
- To prevent serious harm to a person receiving care or to a third party
- To prevent serious risk to public health =
