Respect for confidentiality - good psychiatric practice

by Professor Roy McClelland and Dr Colin M. Harper

The practice of respect for patient confidentiality takes many factors into account and requires a sophisticated understanding of the issues at stake.

 

In this module, we aim to provide psychiatrists with the knowledge required to deal with different situations as they might arise.       

 

The module offers guidance on:

 

  • the ethical and legal principles underpinning confidentiality in clinical practice

 

  • the issue of consent in relation to confidentiality

 

  • information-sharing to provide healthcare

 

  • information-sharing between users and carers

 

  • working in multidisciplinary teams and interagency working

 

  • situations with dual obligations

 

  • situations where patients are vulnerable to unfair disclosure

 

  • situations where disclosure is a legal obligation

 

  • situations where disclosure is a matter of professional judgement.

 

Start the module

 

Module information | About the authors | Module contents | Take-home notes | References | Feedback

 The practice of respect for patient confidentiality takes many factors into account.


 


© 2008 Royal College of Psychiatrists