AJOB ARTICLEInFOCUS
Ethical Guidelines for Use of Electronic Mail Between Patients and Physicians
This Report examines the ethical implications of electronic communication, focusing on the use of electronic mail (e-mail), considers its impact on a previously established patient-physician relationship, and the limitations in using e-mail to create a new patient-physician relationship. In its recommendations, this report offers guidance to physicians who use electronic mail to communicate with patients and online users. These guidelines maintain that e-mail should not be used to establish a patient-physician relationship, but rather to supplement personal encounters. When using e-mail, physicians hold the same ethical responsibilities to their patients as they do during other encounters and that information must be presented in a manner that meets professional standards. The report requires that physicians notify patients of e-mail's inherent limitations and that patients be given the opportunity to accept these limitations prior to the communication of privileged information. Finally, physicians should be aware of privacy and confidentiality concerns when using e-mail to communicate with patients.
by Amy M. Bovi
FEATURE ARTICLES
Privacy is True Price of Healthy Worker Discounts
Even fit folks should resist the temptation of lower deductibles.
by Arthur L. Caplan
Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When is it okay to break confidentiality?
This episode raises issues about the nature of confidentiality in health care, and the possible reasons why confidentiality may be broken.
by Pamela G. Nathanson
When doctors undermine patient confidentiality
In today's hospitals, it is not unusual for several physicians and hospital employees to be involved in the care of a single patient. This team approach has altered the boundaries of confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship, aimed to safeguard as private the patient's clinical information.
by Sara Taub
Duty to Patient vs. Duty to Society: The Physician's Obligation to Patient, the Law and Society
The doctor-patient relationship of the Hippocratic tradition bound the physician to unwavering confidentiality. Historically the basis of confidentially has been thought to be somewhat misleading.
by Theresa A. Walls More Articles... |
IN THE NEWS Medical Records: Stored in the Cloud, Sold on the Open Market
Oct 21 (Wired) When patients visit a physician or hospital, they know that anyone involved in providing their health care can lawfully see their medical records. Gender Test After a Gold-Medal Finish
Aug 20 (New York Times) On the blue track at the Olympic Stadium, all three medalists celebrated after the women's 800 meters at the world track and field championships. But when it came time for the postrace news conference, the gold medalist, Caster Semenya, was nowhere to be seen. She had been replaced on the rostrum by Pierre Weiss, the general secretary of the International Association of Athletics Federations, the sport's governing body. Doctors Call for 'Munchausen' Blacklist
Aug 19 (The Age (Australia)) Victorian doctors have called for a new electronic blacklist that alerts hospitals and GPs to patients who repeatedly turn up with invented or imagined health problems. Octuplets' hospital privacy fine
Jul 17 (BBC) The hospital where octuplets were born in January has been fined for a second time for failing to protect the family's medical privacy. A New Patient Worry: Medical Identity Theft
Jun 15 (The New York Times)
Much has been written about the problem of identity theft, but
today’s Patient Money column focuses on a new version of the problem: medical identity theft. The crime comes in many forms. Sometimes, an individual’s name and
social security number is used for another patient to receive expensive
care, and the bills may show up on your credit report. Stolen insurance
information may allow someone to receive care on your policy. More
common is the case when medical information is stolen by hospital or
lab facility insiders, who sell the information to be used for
fraudulent claims. More News... |
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