assignment # 7

Truth telling and confidentiality

Telling the truth to your patient wholly depends on whether you trust your patient to be able to handle the truth especially if his/her condition lies on the extreme end of the spectrum. While telling the truth is always preferential to lies or even half-truths, we should also take into account the condition of the patient, on whether knowing the truth is beneficial or harmful to his/her overall condition. Sometimes, we overlook the inner strength of the patient by concealing the truth in order to "spare" him/her of unnecessary pain, worry or anxiety. Still, it's all in the delivery of the information. Soften the blow, so to speak, so as not to create more tension and ill-feelings. However, if you think that the mental condition of the patient is very fragile and could hardly handle knowing the truth, as supported by their family, then supplying only half-truths to the patient may be acceptable but still, the whole truth should be given to the family members or preferentially to the elder of the family or the financial supporter.

Confidentiality, on the other hand means disclosing classified information only to those authorized to have access. This would mean that unless a person is the legal guardian of the said patient, he/she cannot access the patient's records unless with a signed consent. This holds true to any members of the family. Other doctors not part of the treatment team or hospital staff are also not permitted to obtain information about a patient record. However, if a patient information is such that it can be harmful to the general public, then in the physician's better judgment it should be disclosed but only to appropriate authorities only. Otherwise, any breech of confidentiality in the part of the physician, or other unauthorized persons should be lawfully dealt with.

ref: http://www.providence.org/everett/Patient_Resources/HIPAA.htm