Q: I was hospitalize for heart problems after being threatened with a gun. No shots were fired and I didn't report it. I just went to make sure my heart was OK after the rush. Hi Sean thanks for the answer. It is only necessary to report if there is an injury from a weapon.
A: Basically, physician-patient confiidentiality can be breached (in virtaullay all US states) when a matter of imminent danger to the patient or others comes up. This may represent homicidal ideation, suiicidal ideation or fear for one's life. In these cases physician-patient confidentiality can ande should be breached. If a patient tells me s/he has a specific plan to kill him or herself or act in a manner that will put others in danger, I am compelled by my State Medical Board to breach confidentiality to ensure the safety of others. The only other situation when confidentiality is breached (in my state) is when a patient is diagnosed with a specific infectious illness where one poses a threat to the health of others. Physician-patient confidentiality is taken quite seriously, both legally and ethically, but ther are, indeed, circumstances when it must be breached for the welfare of others (not many situations).
Related items
- Does any one know about the product called 'Bio disc' ?Is It svientifically proven as the manufacturers claims?
- How can i decrease blood bleeding during frozen abalone?
- What is this medical procedure called?
- As the eyes sweeps from left to right, is it normal to experience an involuntary eye movement opposite from?
- High levels of potassium?