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?
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There are two concepts at play. The ethical concept is called “Doctor Patient Confidentiality”. It means that your doctor is not supposed to share anything you tell them with others unless you give permission. If a doctor gossips about your confidential medical history, it is a serious breach of ethics. They will likely be punished by their medical board and shunned by peers for such a transgression.
There is also a legal concept in the United States, called HIPAA which stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It lays out the legal situations in which a physician or healthcare facility can and can’t share your health information, as well as when they are required to do so. For example, if you change doctors and request for your records to be sent to your new doctor, your previous doctor must oblige. Additionally, before being treated you often sign a HIPAA form which informs you that your doctor can share your medical records with insurance companies for billing purposes.
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