Patient Confidentiality: A Case Study
Patient Confidentiality The confidentiality of a patient’s medical records has been an ongoing dilemma for healthcare professionals. To put it another way, there is a difficulty in discerning the boundaries of one’s duty and his/ her concern with the patients. Be that as it may, health care staff should maintain professionalism towards their work through respecting the privacy of the patients. As a matter of fact, this promotes the establishment of mutual trust between the health care staff and the patient. Correspondingly, the patients will not withhold any information regarding his/ her health to the physicians and nurses that will lead to enhanced and effective treatment of the former (College Of Physicians And Surgeons Of Ontario, 2016).
Even so, there are circumstances when confidentiality of one’s own medical records may be breached. For instance, health care professionals are duty- bound to report to authorities any person who arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds, or an injury from attacks caused by knives and sharp blades (Medical Protection, 2016). Furthermore, there are particular occurrences when the patient may formally request the health care staff to reveal their current state to their family and friends (Blightman, Griffiths, & Danbury, 2013). By the same token, physicians can also unveil their patients’ information to other medical health professionals in order to strategize on the best treatment and care that is suitable to the condition of the person (British Medical Association, 2016). Notably, if there is a huge possibility that the patient would be subjected to illicit harm such as death or sexual abuse, it is justifiable to uncover their records (Holden, 2016). In the same fashion, when the patient is considered a threat to the security of the country or he/ she had violated the law, the court may direct the doctors to disclose their medical records without the authorization of the patient (Blightman, Griffiths, & Danbury, 2013). As has been noted, withholding the medical records of a patient is not applicable to every situation. Although this may be true, generally, confidentiality should be upheld, for it is a substantial aspect of the duties of a health care professional. In essence, it is of vital importance to be adept in making justifiable decisions in a variety of circumstances.
Even so, there are circumstances when confidentiality of one’s own medical records may be breached. For instance, health care professionals are duty- bound to report to authorities any person who arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds, or an injury from attacks caused by knives and sharp blades (Medical Protection, 2016). Furthermore, there are particular occurrences when the patient may formally request the health care staff to reveal their current state to their family and friends (Blightman, Griffiths, & Danbury, 2013). By the same token, physicians can also unveil their patients’ information to other medical health professionals in order to strategize on the best treatment and care that is suitable to the condition of the person (British Medical Association, 2016). Notably, if there is a huge possibility that the patient would be subjected to illicit harm such as death or sexual abuse, it is justifiable to uncover their records (Holden, 2016). In the same fashion, when the patient is considered a threat to the security of the country or he/ she had violated the law, the court may direct the doctors to disclose their medical records without the authorization of the patient (Blightman, Griffiths, & Danbury, 2013). As has been noted, withholding the medical records of a patient is not applicable to every situation. Although this may be true, generally, confidentiality should be upheld, for it is a substantial aspect of the duties of a health care professional. In essence, it is of vital importance to be adept in making justifiable decisions in a variety of circumstances.