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The Risks of Absolute Medical Confidentiality

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Abstract

Some ethicists argue that patient confidentiality is absolute and thus should never be broken. I examine these arguments that when critically scrutinised, become porous. I will explore the concept of patient confidentiality and argue that although, this is a very important medical and bioethical issue, this needs to be wisely delivered to reduce third party harm or even detriment to the patient. The argument for absolute confidentiality is particularly weak when it comes to genetic information and inherited disease.

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Acknowledgments

I am very grateful to Kathy da Gama for her expert supervision as some of this work was presented for a MA degree in medical ethics and law at Keele University, United Kingdom.

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  1. Dept Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham, SE13 6LH, UK

    M. A. Crook

  2. University of Greenwich, Greenwich, UK

    M. A. Crook

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Crook, M.A. The Risks of Absolute Medical Confidentiality. Sci Eng Ethics 19, 107–122 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-011-9283-1

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