Indiscretion and other threats to confidentiality.

Abstract

Confidentiality is a central and ancient principle of ethical medical practice. Most discussion about this principle concerns the few occasions when breaching the principle may be justifiable. Most breaches of confidentiality, however, are not in such cases, but rather in circumstances where it is obvious that the principle should be preserved. This paper surveys the varieties of indiscretion that violate confidentiality and also considers other threats to this important principle.