The limits of confidentiality.

doi:10.2307/3561549

Paper

The limits of confidentiality.

Published Feb 1, 1983 · Sissela Bok

The Hastings Center report

Q1 SJR score

27

Citations

1

Influential Citations

Full textSemantic Scholar

Abstract

In an article adapted from her book Secrets: On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation, Bok discusses the concept of confidentiality and its relation to secrecy, privacy, and privileged communication. Three premises--autonomy over personal information, respect for shared secrets in human relationships, and obligations incurred in promises--justify confidentiality; a fourth--the benefits of confidentiality to those in need of advice, sanctuary, and aid--supports professional secrecy. The author presents examples of conflicts over confidentiality faced by health and other professionals in areas of competing legitimate claims.

Study Snapshot

Confidentiality is justified by autonomy over personal information, respect for shared secrets, obligations incurred in promises, and benefits for those in need of advice, sanctuary, and aid.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Paper

The limits of confidentiality.

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References

Citations

How individuals discover and respond to putative secrets in the family

Family secrets, particularly negative ones, can lead to increased distance, hurt, and less satisfaction in relationships.

Critical essay: Blinding faith – Paradoxes and pathologies of opacity in peer review

More open peer review can improve manuscript evaluation and scientific progress by addressing the anomaly between openness and opacity in scientific work.

Keep the cat in the bag: Children understand that telling a friend's secret can harm the friendship.

By 6 years of age, children understand that social relationships can increase people's obligations to keep each other's secrets, and that failing to do so can harm the relationship.

Why states have no right to privacy, but may be entitled to secrecy: a non-consequentialist defense of state secrecy

States have no right to privacy, but may be entitled to secrecy due to their right to rule content-independently, rather than relying on group privacy arguments.

Psychological climates in action learning sets: a manager's perspective

Trust, honesty, vulnerability, reciprocity, confidentiality, and personal disclosure are key factors in creating a positive psychological climate in action learning sets, fostering professional learning.