The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions

The duty of medical confidentiality has been one of the core duties of medical practice as information created, disclosed, acquired directly or indirectly during the doctor-patient relationship is considered confidential and requires legitimate protection. Further, preserving confidentiality on the...

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Main Authors: Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie, Ramli, Nazri
Format: Article
Language:English
English
Published: Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Law International Islamic University Malaysia 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/1/54432_The%20Inviolability%20of%20Medical.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/2/54432_The%20Inviolability%20of%20Medical_WOS.pdf
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author Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Ramli, Nazri
author_facet Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Ramli, Nazri
author_sort Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
description The duty of medical confidentiality has been one of the core duties of medical practice as information created, disclosed, acquired directly or indirectly during the doctor-patient relationship is considered confidential and requires legitimate protection. Further, preserving confidentiality on the premise that the relationship between doctor and patient has been built on trust and confidence renders the duty to be seen as sacrosanct. The source for this duty can be found not only in the Hippocratic Oath, codes of ethics, religious tenets but also in the common law, principles of equity and statutory provisions. Nevertheless, technological advancements and the growth of social networks have contributed to the difficulties in preserving confidentiality as the information gathered tends to become vulnerable in unsecure environments. However, the duty of medical confidentiality is by no means absolute as it can be breached in situations in which there are stronger conflicting duties. This article discusses the rules governing the duty of medical confidentiality and the exceptions in which infringements to this duty become justified. It also gives an overview of the duty of confidentiality under Islamic law. It concludes that the inviolability of this duty may be without doubt but circumstances warranting its disclosure are crucial to serve the interests of justice.
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spelling iium-544322017-10-06T09:07:57Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/ The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie Ramli, Nazri K Law (General) The duty of medical confidentiality has been one of the core duties of medical practice as information created, disclosed, acquired directly or indirectly during the doctor-patient relationship is considered confidential and requires legitimate protection. Further, preserving confidentiality on the premise that the relationship between doctor and patient has been built on trust and confidence renders the duty to be seen as sacrosanct. The source for this duty can be found not only in the Hippocratic Oath, codes of ethics, religious tenets but also in the common law, principles of equity and statutory provisions. Nevertheless, technological advancements and the growth of social networks have contributed to the difficulties in preserving confidentiality as the information gathered tends to become vulnerable in unsecure environments. However, the duty of medical confidentiality is by no means absolute as it can be breached in situations in which there are stronger conflicting duties. This article discusses the rules governing the duty of medical confidentiality and the exceptions in which infringements to this duty become justified. It also gives an overview of the duty of confidentiality under Islamic law. It concludes that the inviolability of this duty may be without doubt but circumstances warranting its disclosure are crucial to serve the interests of justice. Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Law International Islamic University Malaysia 2016 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/1/54432_The%20Inviolability%20of%20Medical.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/2/54432_The%20Inviolability%20of%20Medical_WOS.pdf Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie and Ramli, Nazri (2016) The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions. IIUM Law Journal, 24 (2). pp. 335-357. ISSN 0128-2530 E-ISSN 2289-7852 http://journals.iium.edu.my/iiumlj/index.php/iiumlj/article/view/262/199
spellingShingle K Law (General)
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Ramli, Nazri
The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
title The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
title_full The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
title_fullStr The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
title_full_unstemmed The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
title_short The inviolability of medical confidentiality in Malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
title_sort inviolability of medical confidentiality in malaysia: an analysis of the rules and exceptions
topic K Law (General)
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/1/54432_The%20Inviolability%20of%20Medical.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/54432/2/54432_The%20Inviolability%20of%20Medical_WOS.pdf