Confidentiality

Question 1

What is the main principle of confidentiality?

Answer 1

Doctors have a duty and obligation to maintain confidentiality on information provided by patients.

Question 2

What are the categories of exceptions whereby confidentiality can be broken?

Answer 2

With consent from the patient
When required by law
When required by a wider public duty to other people

Question 3

What is implied consent by presence?

Answer 3

If a patient is in hospital, other members of the multidisciplinary team are given implied consent to recieve confidential information as they are part of the team taking care of the patient.
Be careful when disclosing to students as student may not always be part of the team and if they’re not then why should they know?

Question 4

How is the Road Traffic Act relevant to confidentiality

Answer 4

Doctors should help in identifying patients who are suspected of having comitted a driving offence. Doctors are however not required to provide evience that confirms the suspicion.

Question 5

Describe the Terrorism Act

Answer 5

Everyone has a duty

Question 6

Give 2 examples of when there is a public interest in breaking confidentiality

Answer 6

1. If you suspect one of your patients to be planning on seriously harming others by comitting a violent offence.
2. When a person is not medically fit to drive and yet they are still driving and not willing to disclose this info to the DVLA themselves. (i.e. risking of hurting others but unintentionally).