Confidentiality

Which of the following best exemplifies a breach of medical confidentiality, and why might it be considered ethically and legally significant?

A physician discloses a patient's HIV status to a colleague not involved in the patient’s care, during a casual lunch conversation.

Which of the following types of patient information is not typically considered protected under medical confidentiality, and why?

A patient’s public social media post about their hospital stay, shared voluntarily.

Which of the following scenarios represents a valid disclosure of medical information with patient consent, and meets ethical and legal standards for informed authorization?

A patient provides written, time-limited consent for their medical records to be shared with a specialist for a second opinion.

Which of the following best illustrates the Tarasoff Principle as it applies in a medical context, and why is it ethically and legally justified?

A therapist notifies a potential victim after a patient makes a credible, specific threat of physical harm toward that individual.

Which of the following actions best aligns with the Caldicott Principles, particularly in ensuring appropriate justification and minimization of patient-identifiable data use?

A clinical audit team uses anonymized data to review treatment outcomes across departments, limiting access to necessary staff only.

What is the primary purpose of the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 in the context of medical practice?

To grant patients the right to access and control medical reports written about them for employment or insurance purposes.

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the medical field, particularly regarding healthcare professionals' duties?

The Act introduces provisions for the disclosure of medical records to law enforcement when the patient is involved in criminal activity, with certain conditions.

What is the primary purpose of the Access to Health Records Act 1990 in the context of healthcare?

To grant deceased patients representatives the legal right to access the patients health records.

What is the primary purpose of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the context of medical practice?

To ensure that individuals are assumed to have capacity to make decisions unless proven otherwise, and to establish how decisions are made for those who lack capacity.

What is the primary purpose of the Care Act 2014 in the context of healthcare?

To create a duty for local authorities to promote the well-being of individuals in need of care, ensuring personalized care plans and support.