Extra: Doctor-patient confidentiality (Summary)

Patient consent (valid and legal):
1. Patient must have capacity to consent
2. Patient must be adequately informed
3. Patient must consent voluntarily

Patients who can’t give consent:
1. Minors (in Malaysia, below 18)
2. Adults with mental illnesses
3. Adults with intellectual disabilities
4. Adults with senility
5. Unconscious patients

When can we breach confidentiality?
1. Legally Obliged
§ Reportable deaths
§ Infectious diseases
§ Health impaired medical professionals
§ Registration of birth and death
§ Drunk drivers
2. Legally Permissible
§ Patient has consented
§ De-identified information
§ Disclosure to other health professionals (necessary for patient care)
§ Disclosure in the public interest (reasonable grounds to believe there is imminent danger)
3. Ethically
§ Harm to self (patient)
§ Harm to others (must weigh and balance interests of patient and duties to society)

(Sources: MBBS Study Guide MED1011)
(Posted by: Vivian)