ETHICS IN HEALTH CARE

Ethics In Health Care

Ethics In Health Care

Ethics Code states that the confidentiality of patient information means and should not be made before the patient receives care. By maintaining confidentiality, respect for the providers of patient autonomy, to respect their obligations to reciprocate the trust of patients, and to maintain public confidence in the provider-patient relationship.8 Patients who trust their providers to protect their secrets more likely to seek prompt care stigmatized health conditions and to disclose confidential information necessary for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

According to Merril (2004) Ethical responsibility for the preservation of confidentiality, also approved laws to protect individuals right to privacy. Confidentiality in relation to health care is a personal right "to control the information [about themselves], that others have" (Merril 2004:96). As Alpers (1999) the confidentiality of "the duty of those who receive personal information not to disclose it without the consent of the patient." Therefore, the patient-provider confidentiality is secured by the law as a means by which the right to privacy is implemented. (Alpers 1999:291)

According to Merril et al. (2004), as there is no obligation to report criminal conduct, the individual physician must assess the likelihood and extent of the damage to society in relation to the patient's right to protect his or her personal life. Any decision to violate the patient's trust must include a frank discussion on the situation with the patient. (Merril et al. 2004)

According to Beech (2007), although the law may protect health care workers who have decided to honor the patients' privacy in cases of suspected abortion, prosecutors appeared to condone the behavior of providers that have notified the government suspects of illegal abortions. The state prosecutors to investigate suspected criminal abortion when the notice of health care workers and judges who have not ...