Sharing patient information between professionals: confidentiality and ethics

Authors

Annette J. Braunack-Mayer, University of WollongongFollow
Ea Mulligan, Flinders University

RIS ID

127766

Publication Details

Braunack-Mayer, A. J. & Mulligan, E. C. (2003). Sharing patient information between professionals: confidentiality and ethics. Medical Journal of Australia, 178 (6), 277-279.

Abstract

• Careful consideration of the ethical implications is required before patient information should be shared without the patient's knowledge.

• Routine and apparently uncontroversial releases of information can be perceived as problematic by patients.

• The ethics of such "ordinary" breaches of confidence can be explored by considering the patient's autonomy, the patient's best interests, and the public interest in preserving or breaching confidentiality.

• Patient autonomy can be supported and ethical problems may be avoided when patients are given as much information as possible about foreseeable information disclosures.