Difference between revisions of "Confidentiality"

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Confidentiality: The expectation of the use of an individual’s information to respect and uphold that individual’s privacy
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Confidentiality: "The ethical principle or legal right that a physician or other health professional will hold secret all information relating to a patient, unless the patient gives consent permitting disclosure." (AHMD)
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Doctor-patient confidentialty is a concept that is as old as the Hippocratic Oath that states, "Whatever, in connection with my professional service, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret."  Confidentialy is supported by the AMA's Code of Medical Ethics which states that information that is disclosed to a physician during the course of the patient-physician relationship is confidential to the utmost degree.  The purpose of this confidentiality per the AMA is to reinforce full disclosure from patients for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. 
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This ethical concept of confidientialty was made a legal responsibility in addition to an ethical responsibility by the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Act of 1996.  Two rules were enforced applying to confidentiality beginning in 2003, these include the HIPAA Security Rule and the HIPAA Privacy Rules.  The  HIPAA Privacy Rule regulates the use and sharing of identifiable health information and gives individuals the right to determine and restrict access to their health information.  The HIPAA Security Rule requires that reasonable and safeguards be used to particularly protect electronic identifiable health information.
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Sources:
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-The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary. 2009.
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-http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/patient-    confidentiality.shtml.  Accessed November 24, 2009.
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-http://www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/doctor-patient-confidentiality.  Accessed November 24, 2009.
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-http://www.uchsc.edu/hipaa/ Accessed November 24, 2009.

Revision as of 23:12, 24 November 2009

Confidentiality: "The ethical principle or legal right that a physician or other health professional will hold secret all information relating to a patient, unless the patient gives consent permitting disclosure." (AHMD)

Doctor-patient confidentialty is a concept that is as old as the Hippocratic Oath that states, "Whatever, in connection with my professional service, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret." Confidentialy is supported by the AMA's Code of Medical Ethics which states that information that is disclosed to a physician during the course of the patient-physician relationship is confidential to the utmost degree. The purpose of this confidentiality per the AMA is to reinforce full disclosure from patients for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of illnesses.

This ethical concept of confidientialty was made a legal responsibility in addition to an ethical responsibility by the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Act of 1996. Two rules were enforced applying to confidentiality beginning in 2003, these include the HIPAA Security Rule and the HIPAA Privacy Rules. The HIPAA Privacy Rule regulates the use and sharing of identifiable health information and gives individuals the right to determine and restrict access to their health information. The HIPAA Security Rule requires that reasonable and safeguards be used to particularly protect electronic identifiable health information.

Sources: -The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary. 2009. -http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/patient- confidentiality.shtml. Accessed November 24, 2009. -http://www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/doctor-patient-confidentiality. Accessed November 24, 2009. -http://www.uchsc.edu/hipaa/ Accessed November 24, 2009.