4 premises of confidentiality (moral focus)
- Respect for autonomy
- Respect for human relationships
- Pledge of silence (obligation)
- Utility (useful to society)
Inform clients, to the extent possible about…
the disclosures of confidential information and its potential consequences before the disclosure is made
College members respect the privacy of clients by…
holding in strict confidence all information about clients and by complying with any applicable privacy and other legislation
College members disclose such information on when…
required or allowed by law to do so or when clients have consented to disclosure
confidentiality is at the core of
effective practice - building of trust
it is the social workers ethical duty to
protect client communication
the professional has an obligation to
protect those who cannot advocate for themselves
privileged communication
a legal concept that generally bars the disclosure of confidential communications in a legal proceeding
privacy
the right of individuals to e left alone and to control their personal information
Ethical Practice Model Protecting Confidentiality Rights (fishers (2008))[6]
- Preparation
- Tell clients the truth “up front”
- Obtain truly informed consent before making a disclosure
- Respond ethically to legal requests for disclosure
- Avoid the “avoidable” breaches of confidentiality
- Talk about confidentiality
Limits of confidentiality(8)
- When clerical assistants handle confidential information
- When a counselor consults
- When a counselor is being supervised
- When a client has given consent
- When a client poses danger to self or others
- When a client discloses intention to commit a crime
- When a counselor suspects abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult
- When a court orders counselor to make records available
Avoiding breaches of confidentiality (5)
- Do not acknowledge that clients are receiving services or give out information regarding clients to unknown callers.
- Strive to verify that you are actually talking to the intended person when you make or receive calls in which confidential information will be discussed.
- Be aware that there is no way to prevent your conversation from being recorded or monitored by an unintended person.
- Avoid making any comments you would not want your client to hear or you would not want to repeat in a legal proceeding
- Texting, voice mail, email
PHIPAPersonal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 - What is it?
Ontario law that governs the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information within the health sector.
PHIPAPersonal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 - What is the objective?
The object is to keep personal health information confidential and secure, while allowing for the effective delivery of health care.
Under legislation of PHIPAPersonal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 what are persons and organizations that provide health care collectively known as?
health information custodians
3 ethical or legal obligations
- Identify clients who are likely to do physical harm to third parties
- Protect third parties from clients judged potentially to be dangerous
- Treat those clients who are dangerous
Challenges (4)
- Suicidal clients
- Child abuse
- Elder abuse
- HIV/AIDS
Suicide (6)
- Take direct verbal warnings seriously.
- Pay attention to previous suicide attempts.
- Identify clients suffering from depression.
- Be alert for feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
- Monitor severe anxiety and panic attacks.
- Explore the interpersonal stressor of loss and separation
Guidelines for assessing suicidal behaviour(7)
–Ascertain whether there has been a recent diagnosis of a serious or terminal health condition.
-Ascertain whether there has been any suicide in the family.
-Assess the client’s support system.
If there is no support system, the client is at greater risk.
-Determine whether the client has a plan.
Identify clients who have a history of severe alcohol or drug abuse.
-Be alert to client behaviors (e.g. giving prized possessions away, finalizing business affairs, or revising wills).
-Determine the history of psychiatric treatment.
Types of elder abuse (6)
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Abandonment
- Financial or material exploitation
Elder abuse rate
10%
Number of seniors facing abuse in ontario and toronto
on- 150,000
to- 35, 400
What is elder abuse?
Any action, or deliberate inaction, by a person in a position of trust which causes harm to an older person.
Who can be the abuser?
The abuser can be a spouse, child, family member, friend or paid caregiver.
