Question

Write (600 words) about Confidentiality of Patient Information in hospital with unique text .

PLEASE dont put the answer in pictur :)

Answer 1

personal health information/ patient information : is subject to certain exceptions,  means identifying information about an individual in oral or recorded form, if the information,

1. relates to the physical or mental health of the individual, including information that consists of the health history of the individual’s family,
2. relates to the providing of health care to the individual, including the identification of a person as a provider of health care to the individual,
3. is a plan of service within the meaning of the Long-Term Care Act, 1994 for the individual,
4. relates to payments or eligibility for health care in respect of the individual,
5. relates to the donation by the individual of any body part or bodily substance,
6. is the individual’s health number, or
7. identifies an individual’s substitute decision-maker.
8. *Physicians must act in accordance with all of their professional and legal obligations.
9. To establish and preserve trust in the physician-patient relationship, patients must be confident that their personal health information will remain confidential.
10. Maintaining confidentiality is fundamental to providing the highest standard of patient care. Patients who understand that their information will remain confidential are more likely to provide the physician with complete and accurate health information, which in turn, leads to better treatment advice from the physician.

It is important to keep the patient information confidential.

Disclosure of personal health information:

A physician can only disclose his or her patient’s personal health information:

• when he or she has the patient’s or substitute decision-maker’s consent and it is necessary for a lawful purpose;

• where it is permitted under legislation, without the patient’s or substitute decision-maker’s consent; or

• where it is required by law.

Consent

Generally, physicians need express or impliedconsent before disclosing personal health information.6

Physicians, however, are entitled to assume that they have the patient’s implied consent for the purposes of providing or assisting in providing health care, unless the physician disclosing the information is aware that the patient has expressly withheld or withdrawn consent.7 This means that, without reason to believe otherwise, physicians can share information with others involved within the patient’s circle of care8 without asking for the patient’s consent.

The patient’s express consent is required for providing his or her personal health information outside of the circle of care, except where otherwise directed by statute.

"Lock Boxes"

The term “lock box” applies to situations where the patient has expressly restricted his or her physician from disclosing specific personal health information to others – even to others involved in the patient’s circle of care.

Where in the course of treatment, a physician is not able to disclose to another physician or health care provider all of the information reasonably necessary for providing care, the physician must notify the recipient of that fact. Physicians are advised to discuss with patients the potential health risks associated with creating a lock box. These discussions and the patient’s decision should be well documented in the patient’s medical record.

PHIPA allows the disclosure of personal health information without patient consent under certain circumstances. Physicians, however, are not prohibited from seeking the patient’s consent. For this reason, the College advises physicians that, whenever possible, they should make every reasonable effort to obtain the patient’s consent before disclosing his or her information.

The following sections address a limited number of situations where disclosure of personal health information is permitted without consent under PHIPA.10

Disclosure for the provision of health care under exceptional circumstances

If the disclosure of personal health information is reasonably necessary for the provision of health care and it is not reasonably possible to obtain the patient’s consent in a timely manner, a physician may disclose the relevant information, unless the patient has expressly instructed the physician otherwise.

For example, this type of disclosure allows the physician to perform necessary medical services during emergency situations.

Disclosure related to risks

A physician may disclose personal health information about an individual if the physician believes, on reasonable grounds, that the disclosure is necessary to eliminate or reduce a significant risk of serious bodily harm to a person or group of persons. The disclosure may be made to police, and in some instances, to the intended victim.

Disclosure to a Family Member or Friend

Situations may arise where physicians are asked by a family member or friend about the condition of a patient. Patients are permitted to restrict the disclosure of such information. For this reason, physicians will be required to obtain express consent from the patient before they are able to disclose the patient’s personal health information. Where the patient is not capable to provide the required consent, physicians must seek consent from the patient’s substitute decision-maker.