The emergency physician and patient confidentiality: a review. Ann Emerg Med 1994 Dec;24(6):1161-7
Date
12/01/1994Pubmed ID
7978601DOI
10.1016/s0196-0644(94)70249-7Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0028075684 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 38 CitationsAbstract
Confidentiality is a promise rooted in tradition, law, and medical ethics. Emergency physicians treat a variety of patients to whom confidentiality is of vital importance: employees, celebrities, victims of violence or disaster, minors, students, criminals, drug abusers, and patients with STDs. EDs should develop methods of ensuring confidentiality for all patients. Although confidentiality is an important principle that should be respected and guarded, it is not absolute. Various laws mandate disclosure of certain patient information; in addition, an overriding moral duty may occasionally require a breach of confidentiality. As Beauchamp and Childress noted, "the therapeutic role may sometimes have to yield to one's role as citizen and as protector of the interests of others." In general, however, circumstances requiring a breach of confidentiality are rare.
Author List
Larkin GL, Moskop J, Sanders A, Derse AAuthor
Arthur R. Derse MD, JD Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultChild
Communicable Disease Control
Confidentiality
Disclosure
Emergency Medicine
Ethics, Medical
History, 19th Century
History, Ancient
Humans
Law Enforcement
Mass Media
Medical Records
Minors
Moral Obligations
Parental Consent
Parental Notification
Personal Autonomy
Physician-Patient Relations
Student Health Services
Substance Abuse Detection
Trust
United States
