What should you do?
I will keep the patient’s medical information secure and private.
As a health information professional – can you tell your friend?
No, I cannot tell my friend. Revealing a patient’s health information to anyone constitutes a serious breach of confidentiality, a violation of professional ethics, and a breach of data protection laws.
Can you interfere with other people or family issue?
No, I have no right to interfere with other people or family issues. My duty is to handle health data professionally. Personal intervention will exceed my professional role and could cause emotional, social, and legal harm.
But, should your friend not know about this because she might be at risk?
My friend should know, but I am not the person who has the right or authority to disclose.
How will you follow the fundamental principles about right to self-determination, doing good, and doing no harm to others?
Autonomy: The patient has the right to decide who knows about his medical condition.
Doing good: The best I can do is to report the concern through proper medical and public health channels, not personally.
Non-Maleficence: This information could cause serious harm, like social stigma and marriage breakdown.
Isn’t it your obligation and the right of the subject to hold the information?
Yes, as a health information professional, it is my obligation to hold and protect the information.