Confidentiality is both common sense and professional convention, per the Hippoc

Question

Confidentiality is both common sense and professional convention, per the Hippocratic Oath, in the sense "I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know" (Lasagna, 1964). It is an obligation not only of those who are called up to take the oath as a matter of course, but all healthcare professionals. Are there instances in which private medical information should be revealed to others in order to protect individuals or the public from harm? Please explain your position using ethical reasoning and theories.

Explanation / Answer

The principle of confidentiality is founded in the Hippocratic Oath is based on the ethical issue; whether more harm is done by occasionally violating its mandate or by always upholding it, regardless of the consequences. Thus this limitation to confidentiality is called as the Harm Principle. Thus; the instances in which private medical information should be revealed to others in order to protect individuals or the public from harm like in case of spouses of the patients who are suffering from sexually transmitted diseases. In cases of child protection issues and in court proceedings.  

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