Preserving confidentiality in occupational medical practice

Preserving confidentiality in occupational medical practice
American Family Physician, April, 1996 by Robert J. McCunney

E-MAILPRINTLINK
The physician's challenge in preserving medical confidentiality derives primarily from his or her position between patients on the one side and businesses, regulatory agencies and insurance carriers on the other side, each of whom have a vested interest in patients' medical information. In providing occupational medical services, the family physician is faced with requests for confidential information from a variety of sources.[1,2] Despite the lack of a uniform national law regarding medical confidentiality, various codes of conduct and relevant parts of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1992 can help physicians make informed decisions about requests for medical information. In all codes of conduct, the patient decides whether and when to release such material, unless overruled by public health risks or laws. This article provides a framework for response to requests for information by reviewing several codes of conduct and legislation affecting confidential medical information and applying them to five clinical care situations.

read more: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_n5_v53/ai_18219837