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RLO: Why do we need confidentiality?


Introduction

Confidentiality is an important principle in health and social care because it functions to impose a boundary on the amount of personal information and data that can be disclosed without consent. Confidentiality arises where a person disclosing personal information reasonably expects his or her privacy to be protected, such as in a relationship of trust.

The relationship between health and social care professionals and their patients/clients centres on trust, and trust is dependant on the patient/client being confident that personal information they disclose is treated confidentially.

However confidentiality can be countered, when there is a public interest in others being protected from harm.

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