All terms
Breaching confidentiality (exceptions)
The limited situations where disclosing patient information without consent is justified: with consent, when required by law, or in the public interest to prevent serious harm.
Being able to name the exceptions — and that you would tell the patient where possible and disclose only the minimum necessary — is central to confidentiality dilemmas.
More glossary terms
- ABCDE approachA systematic method for assessing and treating an acutely unwell patient — Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure — dealing with each before moving on.
- AMPLE historyA focused emergency history — Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events — taken quickly in acute situations.
- ARCPThe annual assessment that decides whether a doctor in training has met the competencies to progress to the next stage.
- AVPU scaleA rapid way to grade consciousness — Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive — used in initial assessment.
Put it into practice
Rehearse PLAB 2 stations with AI simulated patients and get structured feedback after every consultation.
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