P.F. OMONZEJELE

This study is a philosophical examination into the problems and challenges of the consequence of confidentiality medical practice. Historically, particularly, with the time of Hippocrates, medical practice began to be seen as an organized profession guided by some ethical rules and norms. Certain conditions were set and required to be met or sustained in the practice of medicine. One of such principles and rules was/is the importance of confidentiality of doctor-patient’s relationship. The principle of
confidentiality admonishes physicians to adhere and maintain the right of keeping patient’s health record(s) secret and that only the patient is expected or allowed to be disclosed with the true nature or status of his or her health situation. In other words, the principle of confidentiality in medical practice argues that doctors are obligated never to disclose the health status of his or her patient to a third party but must always respect the ethical law of confidentiality by ensuring that the health result or report of the patient is been disclose to another person neither to be made available to the general public or to the community. Ironically, keeping to the tenet of this principle or this ethical law appears to be elusive today as there evidences of the violations of this ethical law. There are debates today among ethicists as to whether should this ethical norm be continually
adhered to at all course and in all situations. Some medical practitioners have argued that such ethical norm be abolished; others continued to argue in support of keeping to this norm. In order to argue against or in defense of the practice of confidentiality in medical practice, different moral theories have been employed by different moral philosopher in defense for and against it. Such theories may include Deontologism, Consequentialism, Emotivism, Situationism, and many others. In this study however, the moral theory of situationism was adopted and the study posits that while the ethical norm of confidentiality is plausible, it is however, not without some challenges. Thus, the study concludes that in keeping to the consequence of confidentiality in medical practice, certain situations much be given considerations.