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.

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 (Updated April 2010)

  

If you like this module, you may also be interested in:

 

Human rights and the Human Rights Act 1988 – implications for psychiatrists by Dr Martin Curtice and Dr Richard Symonds

 

The Mental Capacity Act 2005: Part 1 and Part 2 by Professor A. Holland

 

The Irish Mental Health Act 2001 by Dr Larkin Feeney & Dr Brendan D. Kelly

 

Clinical errors and medical negligence by Dr Anupam Dharmadhikari and Professor Femi Oyebode
 

 

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© 2010 Royal College of Psychiatrists