Confidentiality Essay (Essay Sample)

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Confidentiality
As a medical practitioner, confidentiality of the patient’s information is one of the core values that the profession regards with the highest esteem. It is imperative to keep the client’s information private unless he consents to release the information to the third party (Jessica et al. 1).
According to Jessica et al. patients routinely share personal information with the health care providers. If this information is not protected, the physician-patient trust is jeopardized. Patients will be less likely to share sensitive information about their health a fact that might have a negative impact on their care (1). As noted by Jessica et al. the development of a trusting environment by respecting the patient's privacy encourages the client to seek care and to be as honest as possible during a health care visit. Besides, the strategy may also increase the willingness of the patient to seek care in future. It is always imperative to make sure that family members, friends and the employer of the client do not access the client's information without his knowledge (1).
Peter and I were childhood friends whom we grew up with in the same neighborhood. Despite being neighbors; we both went to the same college and shared a lot of experiences in life. He studied accounting while I took a nursing course. Our closeness and trust made him choose me as his family doctor a fact that strengthened the bond between us even more. I had access to his family information. I became not only a longtime friend but also a confidant.
Peter got an accounting job with an international organization abroad. Due to the complex nature of the working environment, Peter had to leave her family behind, a wife and two children. As the family doctor, I continued to provide medical care to the family in the event that any member of the family became sick. Besides; I always gave Peter timely updates on the well-being of the family.
Peter was away for five years. Being a neighbor, I noticed that the wife started to have an affair with the workmate. During that period, Peter kept on asking if her wife has a problem since she never used to pick her calls during the weekends. In most cases, this is the time when she was with the man she used to cheat her husband.Peter always asked me to investigate the cause of the problem. At times, Peter sent me to his house when the wife was inaccessible so as to speak to his two children. I always gave an excuse that I had many clients in the clinic and that I will go to his house the next day.
I decided not to tell Peter about his wife’s infidelity so as to save the family. One day, I decided to call Peters wife in my clinic. I expressed my disappointment about her current behavior and advised her to change for the sake of her children and the unity of the family.
After a counseling session with Peter’s wife, I promised her that ...