Confidentiality
Throughout your life, information is recorded about you by different organisations. Within the NHS, doctors need to keep information about your illnesses and treatment so that if another doctor sees you they know what care you have received so far. This information is kept securely and access to it is carefully controlled.
The information on this page is taken from our Confidentiality factsheet (108 kb) ![[pdf]](http://www.rethink.org/display_images/document_icons/pdf.gif)
Confidentiality is a basic principle in the relationship between professionals and patients. The principle means that a doctor should not tell other people personal things about a patient unless it is absolutely necessary.
Confidentiality is based on privacy and respect for an individual's choice in who finds out personal things about them.
Sometimes this has to be weighed-up against "public interest", meaning that in some circumstances it is for the benefit of the general public that information should be disclosed.
The basics of confidentiality
Your confidentiality is protected by the courts, and so each professional organisation has its own policy on confidentiality that must be kept to.
There are some exceptional circumstances when a doctor can disclose information without your consent. These circumstances are where there is a risk of serious harm to you or to others or a risk of a serious crime being committed.
Confidentiality and professionals outside the NHS
Confidentiality rules may apply whenever you use a service and you need to disclose personal information about yourself. A service which deals with confidential information will have a confidentiality policy which should be made available to you on request.
Confidentality and carers
You do not have to agree to your carer being given information regarding your treatment. If you tell your doctor that you do not want anyone to be given information about you then this should be respected. However, it can sometimes be very positive for your carers and loved ones to be involved in your treatment, and a lot of patients choose to allow their doctors to talk to members of their family.
Confidentiality and complaints
A breach of confidentiality can be very upsetting. It can weaken the trust between a professional and yourself. If you think that there has been a breach of confidentiality it is important to determine if and why a disclosure was made. An advocate should be able to help you do this.
If you do not get any satisfactory explanation as to why your confidentiality was breached and you feel that relevant guidelines were not followed then you can make a complaint to the organisation in question.
A copy of the complaints procedure should be available from the organisation or a member of staff.
