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Guideline 4: Patient privacy & confidentiality

11 out of 14
Title

Specific strategies

While ensuring patient confidentiality is upheld, attempt to meet family carers’ information needs where possible

  • Many family carers report high unmet information needs, particularly information regarding prognosis, illness progression, treatments, and at-home care provision. 13,37
  • Where possible, try to meet the information needs of the family without undermining patient confidentiality. 25

If family carer requests information without patient permission

  • With respect and empathy, explain that clinicians are not able to provide information without patient permission. 25
Click for example wording

It's clear you care about [patient], and it's understandable that you would want to know about their illness. But, I'm very sorry, I am not able to provide that kind of medical information without [patient's name]'s permission”.

  • Acknowledge that unless the patient has given permission, patient confidentiality is protected. 25
Click for example wording

“I would need to have [patient’s] permission before I could provide that kind of medical information”  

 

  • If appropriate, provide information of a general (not personal) nature or refer the family carer to an alternative information source (e.g. a cancer support helpline).
  • If appropriate, re-negotiate with the patient what/how much information can be shared with the family.

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Click + for information about careful communication outside of the consultation setting

Careful communication across settings

After consultations:

- Family carers may try to speak to you briefly after a consultation, to ask questions or provide information without the patient present

- These may be helpful discussions, as they may provide useful information about your patients functioning or needs

- However, it is important to respect patient privacy in responding to family’s requests for information, and only share information with family based on the patient’s preferences of what they want the family member to know

Outside hospital rooms and in corridors:

- In these situations, you may not have the time to effectively communicate with family members

- It is OK to let family carers know if you have insufficient time to address their concerns, and to suggest planning a meeting, or ask them to email or call you at a different time

OVERALL COMPLETION

Guideline 4

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