The essence of medical secrecy according to the Polish law

• Authors: K. Michalak
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the essence of medical secrecy. Notes included in the article refer to Polish law. It is desirable to, firstly, attempt at a definition of "medical secret", and secondly, at the basis of the proposed definition determine the content and substance of a physician’s duty to maintain confidentiality of certain information. Materials and methods: Indications and other selected postulates presented in this paper will be based on a review of existing legislation and scientific reflection. Conclusions: Obligation of medical secrecy is in fact a number of duties of different importance, which generally ensures confidentiality of personal data.

Keywords

EN

medical secrecy; physician’s duty; confidentiality of certain information; liability

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku
• Journal: Progress in Health Sciences
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 239-244

Contributors

author

K. Michalak

References

• Excerpt from the troop of medical oath, commonly called the Hippocratic oath. Modified in 1948 (the Geneva oath) the relevant passage reads: "secrets entrusted to me by them (patients ed. K.M.) I will respect".
• Cf. Sobol E. [ed], Mały słownik języka polskiego, Warsaw 1993, p. 929, “a secret - something mysterious, news / information that should not be broadcasted, which should not come to light - the secret”, (author's own translation). (Polish)
• Cf. Rusinek M. Tajemnica zawodowa i jej ochrona w polskim procesie karnym, Lex/el. 2007, p. 2. Szewczyk M. Prawnokarna ochrona tajemnicy zawodowej lekarza [in:] Czasopismo prawa karnego i nauk penalnych, year IV: 2000, No 1, p. 161. (Polish)
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• Valuable definition is given in: Markowski A. [ed], Słownik poprawnej polszczyzny, Warsaw 2004, p. 784, “[...] mystery - a message that should not be broadcasted, secret, non-disclosure, hiding something; Medical mystery - the message, which disclosure is prohibited by law” (author's own translation). (Polish)
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