Confidentiality responsibilities to HIV positive patients

Patients expect their communication with doctors to be kept confidential. Dr Kathryn Leask explores medico-legal issues faced by medics when a patient’s condition is also a communicable disease such as HIV.
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Doctors have an ethical and legal duty to protect patient’s personal information and generally, a patient’s consent should be sought before information is disclosed about them.

This page was correct at publication on 04/09/2020. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.