PHILOS 2D03 Chapter Notes - Chapter Medicine confidentiality: Mark Siegler, Medical Record
Document Summary
Readings 28 mark siegler confidentiality in medicine: a decrepit concept . Traditional medical confidentiality has been understood by patients and doctors: this no longer exists: it is worn out and a weak concept, efforts to preserve it only give rise to more problems than solutions. Two aspects of medical confidentiality: confidentiality and third party interests: Discussion s of medical confidentiality pertain to the tension between a physician"s responsibility to keep information secure and a physician"s legal / moral duty to reveal such confidences to third parties (ie families, employers) if need be. The central question of this relates to the stringency of the physician"s obligation to maintain patient confidentiality when the health / safety of others is at risk / threated by failure to do so. The tension in such bases is between the good of the patient and the good of others: confidentiality and the patient"s interests: