Ethics 4 Flashcards
Confidentiality
The practice of keeping harmful, shameful or embarrassing information within proper bounds
- confidentiality is a duty
- confidentiality is an obligation, an ethical issue, self imposed by a profession
- practice* and duty*
- confidentiality is important because someone has confided private information to us -> ability to trust
Privacy
A privilege (a right)
- a legal issue invoked (or relinquished) by the patient that requires the professionals to not disclose information
- the right to privacy gives legal standing to the ethical principle of confidentiality
- law that upholds the practice of confidentiality
Violations of confidentiality
Involved disclosure of someone’s private information that they voluntarily imparted in confidence and trust when there was an implicit promise not to divulge that information without their permission
Violations of privacy
Involve the unauthorized disclosure of someone else’s private information (unauthorized access, use or disclosure of procreated health information)
Trust
Always involves a relationship
- confidentiality serves as one cornerstone for building a solid relationship with patient
- breaking the confidence undermines their ability to trust
Modern difficulties with maintaining confidentiality
Professional “need to know” other MDs RNs, therapists, etc.
- communication hazards:
- phone/answering machines
- fax
- copy machines
- electronic medical records
When can you share private patient information with other health professionals
Need to know basis
- when it is directly related to the patient care
- do they need this information to provide the most caring response to the patient
- different from what a colleague might find interesting or unusual
- has no bearing on the case at all
Why do we uphold patients confidence
- build trust in the patient provider relationship
- maintain the patient dignity
- uphold justice
How to uphold justice
Through moral choices that measure the rights of the people involved
- seeking to cause the least amount of damage
- is this the right thing to do?
Special problems in confidentiality
Confidentiality is likely to be lost in return for:
- Insurance coverage
- an employment opportunity
- your application for government benefits
- an investigation of health and safety at your work site
Exceptions to obligation for confidentiality
- patient threatens to harm self
- patient threatens harm to others
- when required by law (state specific):
- communicable disease
- occupational diseases
- wounds of violence
- suspected abuse
- loss of consciousness
Special problems in confidentiality
Confidentiality is likely to be lost in return for:
- insurance coverage
- an employment opportunity
- your application for govenremenr benefits
HIPPA privacy rule
- health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPPA)
- 1996
- required department of health and human services (DHHS) to issue privacy regulations governing individually identifiable health information
who is covered by HIPPA
- applies to covered entities
1. a health plan
2. health care clearing house
3. health care provider who transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a transaction
health plan
means an individual or group plan that provides or pays the cost of medical care