How does the whole “what you say will not leave this room” thing work with doctors?

349 viewsOther

Sorry I couldn’t word that better, but I don’t know the proper term. My vocabulary is kind of limited and I have trouble putting thoughts into words.

I always see stuff about this rule, but I don’t really understand it. You can’t talk about what’s said during this appointment, but what does that entail? And what are the exceptions to this rule, because I think there are, right?

In: Other

40 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The term is patient confidentiality.

There are 2 people in the room, you and a medical professional.

You tell them your medical concerns and history, they use this information to treat you.

Outside the room, you are free to share that same information with anyone you see. Friends, family, strangers on the street are all fair game. This is because it is YOUR information, and you control where it gets shared.

The medical professional does not share your information with other people. There are some exceptions, such as a more complex case where they share symptoms and expected diagnosis as a case presentation but remove identifying information to get some input on treatment options. You also may have signed a release that says they can talk with your partner, parent, or sibling about your condition. But, they are not to just casually discuss you and your case with anyone, especially in a way that links your diagnosis and identity.

You are viewing 1 out of 40 answers, click here to view all answers.