Patient confidentiality is arguably the most important pillar of healthcare professional practice because it transcends beyond moral respect to ensure that professionals retain the trust of their clients. Violating the professional code of conduct related to patient privacy and confidentiality of information can result in a heavy fine or even revocation of the professional license to practice. Therefore, allied health professionals should differentiate between the obligation to reveal information google docs plagiarism checker and the duty to protect patient confidentiality because it is a thin line with serious consequences.
Allied health professionals lack a dedicated professional code of conduct but can be guided by the American Medical Association (AMA) code of medical ethics. One of the most notable principles of medical ethics is that “A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law”. The code presents a myriad of points that allied health professionals can understand to comply with ethical professional conduct.
The first point is that allied health professionals should neither exploit nor abuse their relationship with patients as well as their trust. The point implies that allied health workers should strive to be trustworthy when conducting their affairs when dealing with patients, so as to avoid potential exploitations and breaches of trust. Failure to uphold this point can result in the loss of patients because they will no longer trust the allied health professional. Secondly, allied health workers must ensure that patient records remain confidential. The point implies that these professionals can only use patient information for the specific purpose for which patient information is obtained. Therefore, the first and second points are important because their violation qualifies for a disciplinary hearing and can result in termination of employment depending on the severity of the breach.
The third point is that an allied health professional should get consent from the patient to disclose confidential information. Consent can be obtained in writing to ensure validity under the law. However, the law also provides exceptions to patient confidentiality. An allied health professional can disclose patient information for purposes of protecting the patient as well as third parties from harm. The third point is important because its violation can result in a lawsuit and if found guilty an allied health worker can fined to up to $250,000 by the court. The fourth point is that allied health workers have a professional duty to ensure there is no unreasonable access to patient information by taking reasonable steps to protect private information. One of the most effective approaches to achieving this point is through the HIPAA Privacy Rule. HIPAA has established national standards that health professionals can follow to ensure the security of private information. The privacy rule defines and sets limits to circumstances under which covered entities can disclose private information. Failure to comply with the privacy rule can result in lawsuits. Therefore, the third and fourth points demonstrate the importance of legal compliance through informed consent and compliance with the HIPAA privacy rule.
The final point is that patients have the power to withdraw a service whenever they feel like their privacy is being encroached. For instance, an allied health worker may encroach the patient’s privacy when providing a service. At this point, the client can decide to either give consent for the service to continue or terminate the service. This point is important because proceeding with a service against their will is a violation of their independence and can result in a c. Therefore, allied health workers should always confirm with the client if they are comfortable with the service proceeding.
Patient privacy is an important professional code because it promotes moral respect and trust. However, it is also important because of its dire consequences such as a fine of up to $250,000 and the allied health professionals losing their jobs.
