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| | Ethics Manual, Annals 1 Apr 98 |
 | | If breaching confidentiality is necessary, it should be done in a way that minimizes harm to the patient and that heeds applicable federal and state law. |
 | | Confidentiality is increasingly difficult to maintain in this era of computerized record keeping and electronic data processing, faxing of patient information, third-party payment for medical services, and sharing of patient care among numerous medical professionals and institutions. |
 | | Values that pertain to patient-physician communication (truth telling, confidentiality, nondiscrimination, requirement for informed consent, and tolerance of the diversity of values) are also included, as well as some values that extend outside of the patient-physician relationship (such as protection of third parties, promotion of public health, and respect for the law). |
| www.acponline.org /ethics/ethicman.htm (13896 words) |
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