CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENT-RELATED INFORMATION

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of the physician-patient re lationship. Patients expect that their health care will be kept confid ential, and the physician's legal and ethical responsibilities mandate this. Nevertheless, important, countervailing societal interests requ ire that confidentiality be sacrificed under some circumstances. Patie nts, too, have legitimate access to their health care information. Fam iliarity with legal and local aspects of confidentiality will facilita te patient care and help protect the physician against allegations of breach of the patient's confidentiality.