From an ethical and medical-legal aspect, all information of a personal nature that comes to your attention regarding the patient must be kept confidential. This includes details of his/her illness, treatment, progress, diagnostic studies and personal life. Do not discuss these matters with anyone but duly authorized persons of the health care team participating in the patient’s care and only when necessary to perform your responsibilities. Failure to observe this basic principle of medical ethics is both professionally unacceptable as well as potentially compromising from a medical-legal aspect.
