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Confidentiality is one of the most frequently tested topics in SJT. It appears in multiple forms: scenarios about sharing information with family, social media dilemmas, conversations in public spaces, and the critical question of when it is lawful and ethical to breach confidentiality. This lesson provides a comprehensive framework for handling every confidentiality scenario you may encounter.
Confidentiality is not just a rule — it serves vital purposes:
| Purpose | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Trust | Patients must trust that their information will be kept private, or they will withhold important details |
| Autonomy | A patient's information belongs to them; sharing it without consent violates their right to control their own data |
| Safety | If patients fear their information will be shared, they may avoid seeking help for sensitive issues (mental health, sexual health, domestic abuse) |
| Legal obligation | The Data Protection Act 2018, the UK GDPR, and common law all impose duties of confidentiality |
| Professional duty | The GMC explicitly requires doctors to maintain confidentiality |
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