Protecting information gathered in association with the care of the patient is a core value in health care.

Privacy

Patient privacy encompasses a number of aspects, including personal space (physical privacy), personal data (informational privacy), personal choices including cultural and religious affiliations (decisional privacy), and personal relationships with family members and other intimates (associational privacy).

Code of Medical Ethics opinions; privacy

Confidentiality

Patients need to be able to trust that physicians will protect information shared in confidence. 

Code of Medical Ethics opinions; confidentiality

Medical records

Medical records serve important patient interests for present health care and future needs, as well as insurance, employment and other purposes.

Code of Medical Ethics opinions; medical records

Chapter 3: Opinions on privacy, confidentiality & medical records

AMA Code of Medical Ethics

Visit the Code of Medical Ethics page to access additional Opinions, the Principles of Medical Ethics and a list of CME courses that are available.

Review the Code Opinions

These Opinions are offered as ethics guidance for physicians and are not intended to establish standards of clinical practice or rules of law. 

Protecting information gathered in association with the care of the patient is a core value in health care.

Privacy

Patient privacy encompasses a number of aspects, including personal space (physical privacy), personal data (informational privacy), personal choices including cultural and religious affiliations (decisional privacy), and personal relationships with family members and other intimates (associational privacy).

Code of Medical Ethics opinions; privacy

Confidentiality

Patients need to be able to trust that physicians will protect information shared in confidence. 

Code of Medical Ethics opinions; confidentiality

Medical records

Medical records serve important patient interests for present health care and future needs, as well as insurance, employment and other purposes.

Code of Medical Ethics opinions; medical records

Chapter 3: Opinions on privacy, confidentiality & medical records

AMA Code of Medical Ethics

Visit the Code of Medical Ethics page to access additional Opinions, the Principles of Medical Ethics and a list of CME courses that are available.

Review the Code Opinions

These Opinions are offered as ethics guidance for physicians and are not intended to establish standards of clinical practice or rules of law. 

Chapter 3: Opinions on privacy, confidentiality & medical records​​​​​​​

AMA Code of Medical Ethics Opinions on Privacy, Confidentiality and Medical RecordsPDF, 1003.58 KB

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