Patient Confidentiality - Essay Example

Patient Confidentiality Patient Confidentiality One objects on the CVS Program because it gave information to drug manufacturers without asking the permission or consent of the patients. What they did is an unauthorized use of information which should have been confidential. It is a breach of confidentiality. Furthermore, there is the danger of the patients being led into buying the products being offered without consulting their doctors. Marketing directly to them might influence them to decide and buy drugs that may turn out to be detrimental to their health.

There may be some who will be more prudent and consult their doctors but there is also a certain percentage who would simply buy the medicines. The information being provided by the manufacturers are skewed towards giving positive data on the effectiveness of their products. Information-wise, patients lack the capabilities to properly assess the appropriateness of the medication being marketed to them by the manufacturers through the marketing company. 2. If patients give their health information voluntarily, it means that they are allowing the information to be used freely by whoever sent the questionnaire.

They should realize that providing information especially through the web, makes the data public. In this case, the patient is given a choice whether to answer freely the questionnaire or not. They are not being forced to do so. Some questionnaires though would specify from the very beginning that any information submitted may be used in whatever way the website wishes. If a patient reads the said statement and still goes on to answer the questions about their health, then it is implied that they approve of the use of their health information.