Medical confidentiality Flashcards
The definition and meaning of medical confidentiality The moral and ethical obligations of medical confidentiality The legal requirements and restrictions of medical confidentiality The circumstances in which medical confidentiality can be breached and their consequences
The definition and meaning of medical confidentiality
The moral and ethical obligations of medical confidentiality
The legal requirements and restrictions of medical confidentiality
The circumstances in which medical confidentiality can be breached and their consequences
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Definition of confidentiality
the state of keeping or being kept secret
Hippocratic oath is a solemn promise of what things (6)
Of solidarity with teachers and other physicians.
Of beneficence (to do good or avoid evil) and non-maleficence (‘do no harm’) towards patients.
Not to assist suicide or abortion.
To leave surgery to surgeons.
Not to harm, especially not to seduce patients.
To maintain confidentiality
In the UK, the closest to a modern Hippocratic Oath is…
set by the GMC, laid out as the duties of a doctor under the title “Good Medical Practice”.
4 domains of ‘good medical practice’ by GMC
Knowledge, skills and performance
Safety and quality
Communication, partnership and teamwork
Maintaining trust
4 domains of ‘good medical practice’ by GMC are:
- Knowledge, skills and performance
- Safety and quality
- Communication, partnership and teamwork
- Maintaining trust
What does maintaining trust involve
Show respect for patients.
Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity.
Treat patients politely and considerately.
Respect patients’ right to confidentiality
Treat patients and colleagues fairly and without discrimination.
Act with honesty and integrity.
Never abuse your patients’ trust in you or the public’s trust in the profession.
Patients may avoid seeking medical help, or may under-report symptoms for what reason
if they think their personal information will be disclosed by doctors without consent; LACK OF TRUST ESSENTIALLY
Confidentiality is not absolute - expand on this
appropriate information sharing is an essential part of the provision of safe and effective care.
Patients may be put at risk if those who are providing their care do not have access to relevant, accurate and up-to-date information about them
a doctor must not disclose
confidential information, unless there is…
a legal basis for doing so
Confidentiality is underpinned by what 8 principles according to the GMC
Use the minimum necessary personal information
Manage and protect information
Be aware of your responsibilities
Comply with the law
Share relevant information for direct care
Ask for explicit consent
Tell patients
Support patients to access their information
Information on a patient’s health record is likely to be SPECIAL CATEGORY DATA for the purposes of the GDPR
The conditions most likely to be relevant in medical practice are that:
The data subject has given explicit consent
The processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject
The processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest
The processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest
Situations in which confidentiality can be breached
With the patient’s consent
With other medical practitioners in the patient’s interest
In the doctors own defence
Statutory requirements – prevention, detection and prosecution of serious crime
When directed to by a court of law
Protection of other persons
In the public interest (terrorism, murder, culpable homicide, rape)
Child abuse
