Impact of information technology on patient confidentiality rights : a perspective

Advances in information technology, be it by way of social media or use of the electronic medical information systems, has changed the way we deal with patient confidential information. The hitherto clear professional relationship with the patient has been blurred using social media, just like the unprecedented rate at which electronic health information is used to access and share patient’s confidential information among healthcare professionals. However, given the special professional relationship of confidence which traditionally bonds the healthcare practitioner with the patient, use of these technologies by the healthcare professionals portends the risk of breach of that duty of confidentiality. Although the patient’s right to demand confidentiality of his information is not absolute, an unlawful breach could result in a crime, actionable tort, or become a subject of disciplinary action. This chapter undertakes a general review of the benefits and dangers of embracing these new information technologies and their impact on the confidentiality of sensitive health dat