Confidentiality is very important to patients and has been regarded with great respect by health care professionals. But Despite the importance in the medical field of privacy and confidentiality they are not absolute rights. There are underlying exceptions, many involving ethical and moral considerations. Medical professional duties that may conflict with respecting confidentiality that include duties to protect all individuals wether patient or not, and duties to obey the law. I do believe there are …show more content…
With this being said, which of the two is the lesser harm? The protection of the husbands lifestyle is clearly arguable on the grounds of confidentiality and privacy, as well as beneficence towards the husband. However, if the outcome involves the female patients wellbeing and safety, shouldn't her safety be a prime situation in which to breach a confidentiality agreement. Ethically the physicians on the grounds of potential harm due to husbands continued sexual lifestyle, and the posing threat to the female patient, the physician is in the right to inform the female patient if the male patient is unwilling to communicate these issues with the wife