Confidentiality, death and the doctor.

Litigation and Doctor-Patient Confidentiality.

When a patient sues a healthcare practitioner with regard to their care, the healthcare records are an important part of the evidence used in the case. Litigation is usually heard in open court in the presence of the public and information contained within the records can be aired in that public forum. The issue of patient confidentiality and litigation arose in the case of Kadian v Richards [2...

Confidentiality and death.

The duty of confidentiality in the normal doctor-patient relationship is well recognized. However, the duty of confidentiality between the pathologist who performs the autopsy and the requesting authorities and the next-of-kin is not as clearly spelt out. This article discusses the problems faced by the pathologist with regards to hospital and medico-legal autopsies in Malaysia. A proposed ethi...

The president's message: Doctor-patient confidentiality--suggested legal protections.

In a previous Bulletin editorial, "Congressional Proposals and the New Assault on Privacy," I have strongly criticized the content of four bills now before Congress. These bills were described, to put it politely, in most unkind terms as a threat to professional practice, patient security, and basic civil rights. Reflecting the chaos of extant policy, cross-currents of legislative and judicial ...

Confidentiality and dangerousness in the doctor-patient relationship. The position of the Canadian Psychiatric Association.

Confidentiality in end-of-life and after-death situations.

Confidentiality is one of the foundations on which psychotherapy is built. Limitations on confidentiality in the therapeutic process have been explained and explored by many authors and organizations. However, controversy and confusion continue to exist with regard to the limitations on confidentiality in situations where clients are considering their options at the end of life and after a clie...