Handling of Confidentiality in General Practice: A Survey Among General Practitioners in the Netherlands

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Abstract
Lako CJ, Huygen FJA, Lindenthal JJ and Persoon JMG. Handling of confidentiality in general practice: a survey among general practitioners in the Netherlands. Family Practice 1990; 7: 34–38. This paper describes the results of a study of the handling of confidentiality by general practitioners. A sample of 272 general practitioners in the eastern part of the Netherlands was interviewed. The general practitioners were presented with 10 case confidentiality and were asked what course of action they would pursue. Twenty-eight percent of the general practitioners would never disclose infor mation to others without the patient's consent, while 14% would disclose information to other physicians, members of non-medical professions and relatives. The largest proportion (38%) would disclose information only to other physicians. General practitioners were less likely to divulge information if they were: younger, female or practising in group practices. In particular, general practitioners who involved patients in decision making were less likely to disclose information to third parties. A plea is made for more education about confidentiality in the medical curriculum.

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