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Australia changes confidentiality code

BMJ 1996; 312 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.312.7023.73a (Published 13 January 1996) Cite this as: BMJ 1996;312:73
  1. Christopher Zinn

    The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is under attack from AIDS groups and civil libertarians for making changes to the general practice code of ethics, which will mean that doctors may breach patient confidentiality (see also p78). The radical new clause, to take effect from February, has formalised the circumstances in which doctors may compromise their relationship with patients when the “health of others is at risk.”

    The association's new code of ethics says: “Keep in confidence information derived from your patient, or from a colleague regarding your patient, and divulge it only with the patient's permission. Exceptions may arise where the health of others is at …

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