Patient confidentiality is a critical component of counseling. It requires a provider to maintain private information about their client and ensure unauthorized persons do not access this information. That said, due to the confidentiality provisions, as a provider, I am obligated not to disclose Philip’s private information gathered in the counseling session to anyone, including his parents (Duncan, Hall, & Knowles, 2015). The duty of confidentiality is based on particular ethical arguments that define care delivery.
The first argument is the principle of respect for patient autonomy. The principle requires providers to demonstrate respect for clients' decisions, such as whom they would want to know details about them and their conditions. That being so, a provider should respect Philip’s idea of not disclosing his state to anyone, including his parents. Another argument is that of implicit promise. According to this principle, since confidentiality in a therapeutic relationship is assumed, an implied promise exists between a provider and a patient.
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Trust is another argument that is often unspoken in the patient-provider relationship. When disclosure of certain information is made, a patient is automatically betrayed, which results in the breaking of the confidences. Philip trusts that I will not disclose what we discuss in the session. The relationship between a physician and a client is built mainly on trust. Thus, a physician should always maintain such levels of trust.
However, in most cases, the concept of confidentiality, as far as healthcare law is concerned, is tied to the principle of informed consent. What this means is that confidentiality should be maintained where a patient qualifies to make informed decisions (Duncan, Hall, & Knowles, 2015). Laws in the United States hold that minors are not eligible to make critical healthcare decisions. That being so, since Philip's safety is a primary concern, I am legally obligated to engage his parents about his endeavors and the best way to address his situation.
References
Duncan, R. E., Hall, A. C., & Knowles, A. (2015). Ethical dilemmas of confidentiality with adolescent clients: case studies from psychologists. Ethics & Behavior , 25 (3), 197-221.
