Yorkville University

Who’s the Boss? Ethical Dilemmas in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents

From the Ethical Issues Regarding Confidentiality section:

• Confidentiality is the obligation of the physician to protect the patient’s privacy and to not convey information to other parties without the patient’s permission.
• In child and adolescent psychiatry, patients are fully informed about their confidentiality rights and limitations in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Confidentiality is designed to protect the privacy rights of the patient and to ensure that patients will be able to share information with providers without fear of disclosure
• Understanding the patient’s right to a safe and private space is important to the development of an open therapeutic relationship.
• This principle of confidentiality must be balanced against safety and policy considerations that might justify a breach.
  • For example, overriding confidentiality may be justified when the safety of the patient or others stands in jeopardy.