Confidentiality

Abstract

The duty to maintain the confidentiality of information obtained from and about the patient/client/resident still exists whether the patient is in hospital or in the community. In the community different pressures exist: professionals may glean much information from visiting a person’s home and the dilemmas as to whether to break the duty of confidentiality are great. This chapter is concerned with the nature of the duty of confidentiality and the occasions on which that duty can give way to other greater duties.