Confidentiality

Question 1

What is closest to a modern Hippocratic oath in the UK?

Answer 1

Good Medical Practice

Question 2

What are the four domains of GMC: Good Medical Practice?

Answer 2

1. Knowledge, skills and performance
2. Safety and quality
3. Communication, partnership and teamwork
4. Maintaining trust

Question 3

What is the only exception for confidentiality of the dead?

Answer 3

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

Question 4

What is the common law concerning confidentiality and what does this mean?

Answer 4

Information acquired by doctors in their professional capacity will generally be confidential under common law.
A doctor must not disclose confidential information, unless there is a legal basis for doing so

Question 5

How is data protected in the UK today?

Answer 5

GDPR

Question 6

What are the general principles of GDPR?

Answer 6

Be processed lawfully
Be processed for legitimate purposes
Be adequate for purpose
Be accurate and up to date
Not kept for longer than necessary
Be secure

Question 7

What are the 8 principles in GMC confidentiality book?

Answer 7

1. Use minimum personal info
2. Manage/protect info
3. Be aware of your responsibilities
4. Comply with law
5. Share relevant info for direct care
6. Ask for explicit consent
7. Tell patients
8. Support patients to access their info

Question 8

What is an accepted concept under the law of confidentiality?

Answer 8

Implied consent

Question 9

What are situations in which confidentiality can be breached?

Answer 9

1. With patient’s consent
2. With other medical practitioners in the patients’ interest
3. In doctors own defence
4. Statutory requirements
5. When directed to by court of law
6. Protection of other persons
7. In public interest (murder, terrorism)
8. Child abuse