Ethics-Governance: Article: eMJA: Sharing patient information between professionals: confidentiality and ethics

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eMJA: Sharing patient information between professionals: confidentiality and ethics Sharing patient information between professionals: confidentiality and ethics. Routine and apparently uncontroversial releases of information can be perceived as problematic by patients. The ethics of such "ordinary" breaches of confidence can be explored by considering the patient's autonomy, the patient's best interests, and the public interest in preserving or breaching confidentiality. Patient autonomy can be supported and ethical problems may be avoided when patients are given as much information as possible about foreseeable information disclosures. With recent amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth), there is both increased awareness of and sensitivity about disclosure of health information among users of healthcare services. Traditionally, the greatest ethical concerns about breaches of confidentiality have arisen in situations in which third parties are involved: for example, when not disclosing information about a patient's sexually transmitted disease may mean that the patient's partner is at risk of significant harm. Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_06_170303/bra10520_fm.html


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