9550: Confidentiality of Mental Health Information: Ethical, Legal, and Policy Issues

About the Course:

This article focuses on the issue of confidentiality, discussing why it is central to therapy and describing various exceptions to confidentiality laws. Arguments in favor of more consistency among different states, such as a federal confidentiality law are offered.

Please Note: Many have found this course material very helpful, but it does lack newer information on HIPPA. Readers are encouraged to study HIPPA requirements and integrate it with information in this course.

Author

Surgeon General of the United States

About the Authors:

Chapter 7 of Surgeon General Report

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about mental health ethical issues. It is appropriate for all levels of participants’ knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. To discuss the principles that underlie patient confidentiality

2. To state exceptions to patient confidentiality

3. To describe how information technology and managed care have impacted on confidentiality