**12.5 Confidentiality**

Confidentiality and privacy generally is required in any human relationship [43]. A physician is expected to maintain confidentiality of all discussions made with the client or patient [50]. The physician requires permission and consent of the patient before divulging such information to any other person even among fellow physicians and health care professionals. The ethical principle of confidentiality is related to other ethical principles of autonomy and truthfulness. Patients trust their physicians hence that can open up their privacy to the doctor and trust that the doctor will keep secret all information confided in him or her to be private. Patients and their caregivers hold different preference in the disclosure of medical information about them or their loved one to third parties [44]. The ethical principle of confidentiality is based on trust hence patients trust the clinician therefore they tell them the truth and except the doctor to keep it private to themselves only without their authorization or informed consent [4, 43, 51]. Part of a patient's right dwells on the physician respecting patient confidentiality. Trust in the patient doctor relationship

is based on trust confidentiality and trustfulness. This issue of confidentiality is also maintained even after the death of the patient [32]. The doctor patient relationship is strengthened by confidentiality including communication between them [51]. It is ethical and legally binding on doctors to respect patient confidentiality always [50, 52]. Sometimes, the ethical principle of confidentiality is breached when the medical information is required by a court or law or when the illness is a threat or will be harmful to others and the public. Patients put their trust in their physician hence it is importance to maintain this trust to meet all legal requirements [32]. Confidentiality is breached when communicating with patients through an interpreter.
