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  • 11 - Professional Secrecy

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    Trishenth Fonseka
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    bjbkknk

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    11- Professional Secrecy

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    bjbkknk

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    538 views10 pages

    11 - Professional Secrecy

    Uploaded by

    Trishenth Fonseka
    bjbkknk

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 10

    •  Hippocra(c

     oath  and  Declara(on  of  


    Geneva  require  adherence  to  
    professional  secrecy  
    •  All  informa(on  about  pa(ent/illness/
    family  be  kept  confiden(al  
    •  Doctor  should  maintain  highest  degree  
    of  confiden(ality  
    •  Confiden(ality  extends  even  aAer  the  
    pa(ent’s  death  
     
    •  Never  divulge  it  to  3rd  party,  even  to  
    rela(ves  without  consent    
    •  Disclosure  would  be  a  breach  of  trust  
    •  If  disclosure  results  in  harm  to  pa(ent,  
    he  can  sue  doctor  for  damages    
    •       Informa(on  can  be  divulged  to  3rd  party    
             only  with  expressed  consent  of  pa(ent  
    •       In  case  of  minor  or  insane  with  consent      
               from  guardian    
    • Informa(on  can  be  shared  with  other  
    colleagues  involved  in  the  treatment  of  
    the  pa(ent  
    • Hospital  authori(es  responsible  for  
    storing  data  on  pa(ents  securely.  When  
    ordered  should  be  forwarded  to  courts  
    confiden(ally  
    • Informa(on  regarding  illness  of  an  
    employee  cannot  be  divulged  to  
    employer  without  consent  of  pa(ent  
    •  In  some  instances  doctor  can  disclose  
    informa0on  regarding  illness  of  a  
    pa0ent  
    •  By  breaking  the  professional  secrecy  
    •  When  there  is  a  danger  to  the  public/
    pa0ent  or  state  as  a  result  of  a  disease  
    in  a  pa0ent  
    •  Such  informa0on  should  be  disclosed  directly  
    to  the  relevant  authority    
    •  Wherever  possible  try  to  obtain  consent  from  
    the  pa0ent  
    •  But  the  doctor  has  a  right  to  inform  the  
    relevant  authority  even  if  the  pa0ent  refuses  
    to  give  consent  
    •  And  doctor  cannot  be  sued  for  damages    
    Ex.  of  cases  of  privileged  communica5ons  

    1.  Cook/  waiter  in  a  hotel  diagnosed  to  have  


    typhoid  
    2.          Driver  of  a  bus/  train  is  found  to  be  colour            
                     blind  
    3.  No0fica0on  of  infec0ous  diseases/occupa0onal  
    disease/  births/deaths  to  relevant  authori0es  
    4.  Suicidal  tendencies  of  pa0ent  to  be  no0fied  to  
    parents/  guardian  
    5.  Informa0on  disclosed  to  courts  by  the  
    doctor  regarding  a  pa0ent  is  absolutely  
    privileged  
    6.  Medical  examina0on  findings  can  be  
    disclosed  to  insurance  company  when  
    taking  an  insurance  policy    
    7.  If  adult  pa0ent  shows  suicidal  tendencies  
    or  be  a  danger  to  family,  doctor  should  
    inform  about  the  condi0on  to  the  family  
    8.      Pa0ent  with  communicable  disease    or  HIV/  
               AIDS  disclose  it  to  the  family  and  spouse        
                   
    9.   Inform  police  when  pa0ents  admiSed  
    following  assault,    accidents,  burns,  
    poisoning,  criminal  abor0on  and  sexual  
    assaults      
     
    10.  In  a  medical  negligence  case  filed  against          
                 the  doctor  he  can  give  evidence  on  his    
                 pa0ent’s  illness  
     
    11.  When  repor0ng  a  case  in  a  medical  journal,    
                 iden0ty  of  pa0ent  should  not  be  disclosed    

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