Can You Keep a Secret?
Access to medical records is an extremely sensitive matter. Naturally, when you visit your doctor you expect that the subject of your visit will be kept between yourself and the doctor.

But, are such visits really confidential?
There are a number of ways in which information and records are not truly confidential. For example, doctors (and other health care professionals) are required to provide information and documents as part of a court case.

It is part of the medical professional's code of conduct to respect the confidentiality of information obtained from their client. However, there are legal and other limits to that confidentiality. These limits are currently under the microscope in two important reviews taking place:-

1. A federal government inquiry by the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee) into the issue of access to medical records.

2. The proposed creation of a National Database of Personal Health Information.

The explosion of information technology creates new dangers in relation to confidentiality and access to medical records. It was Bill Gates who said that: ''The same digital technology that makes it so easy to communicate around the world also makes it easy to snoop.''
In the discussions about the creation of a National Database of Personal Health Information, it has been recognised that confidentiality and security of the records are key aspects of privacy.

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