Patient Privacy: When It Matters

Author: Susan E. Mazer Ph.D.

210 Pages

In "Patient Privacy: When It Matters", Dr. Mazer chronicles the history of privacy within the cultural norms of the time and then moves to the current narratives from patients who share their own stories. The question of when patient privacy matters is answered through the lens of the lived experience. "Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients… I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private." (From the Hippocratic Oath, 4th century, B.C.) Patient privacy was first declared in writing by Hippocrates in the 5th century and is often considered the first document to define ethical standards of patient care. Today, while patient privacy remains a mandate for every healthcare professional, it has become enveloped in exceptions many of which are defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The analysis identifies both direct and indirect implications for the patient experience.