Background
The medical ethic of confidentiality is usually taught from a western
ethical perspective based on the Hippocratic oath. This study at an
urban Aboriginal medical service aimed to explore how confidentiality
is understood in a community controlled Aboriginal health service,
with a view to informing the training of general practitioners.
Discussion
Perspectives on confidentiality in this community included issues
of social justice, the importance of public demonstrations of
confidentiality, and the challenge of protecting all relationships
when staff have multiple roles. Incorporation of community
perspectives into the teaching of confidentiality may help doctors to
understand the responsibilities of practising confidentiality in certain
communities.
Results
Six themes were identified: overlapping contexts of confidentiality,
key sensitivities, sharing of patient information, importance of
consent, multiple roles, and consequences of maintaining or
breaching confidentiality.
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