As a health information professional – can you tell your friend?
– As a health information professional, I cannot tell my friend about her husband’s HIV status because it would break confidentiality and professional ethics.
Can you interfere with other people or family issue?
– I cannot interfere with family issues either. Disclosure should come through the patient or the doctor in charge.
But, should your friend not know about this because she might be at risk?
– I believe that she should know for her safety. But the responsibility lies with the patient and the healthcare team to inform her.
How will you follow the fundamental principles about right to self-determination, doing good and doing no harm to others?
– I respect the patient’s right to self-determination. I do good by ensuring that patient data is protected, and I do no harm by making sure no one is put at unnecessary risk.
Isn’t it your obligation and the right of the subject to hold the information?
– It is the patient’s right to decide whether to share his health information with whom. My role is to protect that right and confidentiality.