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7 - Confidentiality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

By
Anne Slowther  and
Irwin Kleinman
Edited by
Peter A. Singer  and
A. M. Viens
Anne Slowther
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Clinical Ethics University of Oxford
Irwin Kleinman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronta
Peter A. Singer
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
A. M. Viens
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

Mr. J is 35 years old. He has had unprotected sex with prostitutes on at least two occasions. Although he is asymptomatic he is worried about the possibility that he may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease and consults his physician. After conducting a careful physical examination and providing appropriate counseling, the physician orders a number of investigations. The blood test comes back with a positive result for HIV. The physician offers to meet with Mr. J and his wife to assist with the disclosure of this information, but Mr. J states that he does not want his wife to know about his condition.

Ms. K is 29 years old and has epilepsy. Her driving license was revoked when she was first diagnosed with epilepsy and she has continued to have seizures every three to four months while on treatment. Ms. K mentions in passing to her physician that she sometimes drives short distances to get groceries. When her physician challenges her about this she says her seizures are very infrequent. Finally, the physician tells her he may have to notify the authorities. Ms. K asks what more the authorities can do as they have already revoked her license. Are they going to leave a police car outside her house to make sure she doesn't drive?

What is confidentiality?

If a person gives information to another in confidence there is an obligation on the person receiving the information not to disclose it to someone else.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics , pp. 43 - 48
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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References

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  • Confidentiality
  • Edited by Peter A. Singer, University of Toronto, A. M. Viens, University of Oxford
  • Book: The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics
  • Online publication: 30 October 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545566.008
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  • Confidentiality
  • Edited by Peter A. Singer, University of Toronto, A. M. Viens, University of Oxford
  • Book: The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics
  • Online publication: 30 October 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545566.008
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Confidentiality
  • Edited by Peter A. Singer, University of Toronto, A. M. Viens, University of Oxford
  • Book: The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics
  • Online publication: 30 October 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545566.008
Available formats
×