In what instances can you breach confidentiality?

Asked by: Xander Schimmel  |  Last update: June 13, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (38 votes)

When to Break Confidentiality
  • If the client may be an immediate danger to themself or another.
  • If the client is endangering another who cannot protect themself, as in the case of a child, a person with a disability, or elder abuse.
  • When required to obtain payment for services.
  • As required by state or federal laws.

What are some situations where you can breach confidentiality?

Murder, manslaughter, rape, treason, kidnapping, child abuse or other cases where individuals have suffered serious harm may all warrant breaching confidentiality.

In what instances are you permitted to breach confidentiality?

Situations in which confidentiality will need to be broken:

There is disclosure or evidence of physical, sexual or serious emotional abuse or neglect. Suicide is threatened or attempted. There is disclosure or evidence of serious self-harm (including drug or alcohol misuse that may be life-threatening).

Which of the following situations would be a breach of confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality occurs when information given in confidence is disclosed to a third party without consent.

What are instances where confidentiality can be broken?

Imminent Danger

Murder or violence: Instances where a patient confesses intent or involvement in a murder or violent act demand careful consideration. If there's a genuine threat to the safety of an individual, breaching confidentiality might be justified to prevent harm.

What Happens If You Breach Confidentiality? - SecurityFirstCorp.com

22 related questions found

What is an instance where confidentiality would be broken?

Here's a confidentiality breach example: you accidentally send sensitive information about a client to another client or a third party who shouldn't have access to it.

What is the most common breach of confidentiality?

A classic example of a breach of confidentiality is mistakenly sending Client A an email that was meant for Client B. In this instance, you've shared Client B's sensitive information with a third party without their consent. This could either be by you as the business owner or one of your employees.

Which example may illustrate a breach of confidentiality?

Here's some breach of confidentiality examples you could find yourself facing: Saving sensitive information on an unsecure computer that leaves the data accessible to others. Sharing employees' personal data, like payroll details, bank details, home addresses and medical records.

What are 5 examples of confidentiality?

The following information is confidential:
  • Social Security number.
  • Name.
  • Personal financial information.
  • Family information.
  • Medical information.
  • Credit card numbers, bank account numbers, amount / what donated.
  • Telephone / fax numbers, e-mail, URLs.

What are four examples of exceptions to confidentiality?

Therapists and mental health professionals are legally obligated to report in several situations:
  • Child abuse or neglect: All states require professionals to report suspected child abuse or neglect. ...
  • Elder abuse: ...
  • Threats of violence: ...
  • Severe mental illness:

Which example represents a breach of confidentiality?

Final answer: The example that represents a breach of confidentiality is discussing patient information in public places, as it involves unauthorized disclosure of patient information. Other options are related to billing fraud rather than privacy violations.

What would be an example of violating a person's confidentiality?

Common confidentiality breach examples include:

Insider threats, such as employees or contractors misusing access to information; Accessing confidential data over public or unsecured networks; Discarding documents or devices without proper data destruction; and.

What is the breach of confidentiality rule?

It is a criminal offence to disclose protected information without authorisation. A breach of protected information is punishable by a maximum of 2 years imprisonment.

What is an example of confidentiality in real life?

What are examples of Confidential Information? Examples of confidential information include a person's phone number and address, medical records, and social security. Companies also have confidential information such as financial records, trade secrets, customer information, and marketing strategies.

What are the boundaries of confidentiality?

Confidential information may only be shared without authorisation from the person who provided it, or to whom it relates, if it's in the public interest – ie where not sharing it could be worse than the outcome of doing so.

Under what circumstances are you free to break confidentiality?

The law in the State of California mandates that information may be appropriately shared when the following conditions exist:
  • If you present an imminent threat of harm to yourself or others.
  • When there is an indication of abuse of a child, dependent adult or elderly adult.
  • If you become gravely disabled.

When can confidentiality be breached?

Such disclosures are permitted if the employee reasonably believes that there is criminal activity, a failure to comply with a legal obligation, a miscarriage of justice, or a risk of health or safety to an individual. Injustice may be considered a suitable cause for breach.

What is an example of confidentiality in real time?

A good example of a method for protecting sensitive data and ensuring confidentiality is requiring an account number or routing number when banking online. Data encryption is another common method of ensuring confidentiality.

What is the golden rule of confidentiality?

A California attorney may only disclose a client's confidential information without informed consent when the attorney reasonably believes it is “necessary to prevent a criminal act” that will likely result in death or bodily harm.

What is an example of breach of confidentiality?

Leaving confidential information unattended in a non-secure area. Disclosing confidential information without proper authorization. Discussing confidential information in the presence of individuals who do not have the "need to know' to perform assigned duties. Improper disposal of confidential information.

When would it be appropriate to breach patient confidentiality?

There are a few situations in which a doctor can break confidentiality. They may need to share medical information with others to provide or obtain treatment, report child abuse or neglect, or protect someone from harm.

What are two examples of privacy and confidentiality that are not protected by HIPAA?

The HIPAA Rules apply only when PHI is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by covered entities and business associates. For example, the HIPAA Rules do not protect the privacy of your Internet search history, information you voluntarily share online, or your geographic location information.

Which of the following is considered a breach of confidentiality?

Examples of breach of confidentiality

An employee steals confidential data. An employee discloses information like bankruptcies and any other data they deem to be non-confidential. An employee sends an email to a client's competitor with confidential data. An employee talks about confidential data somewhere else.

What is the most common cause of privacy breach?

Malicious or criminal attacks are a leading cause of data breaches notified to the OAIC. Strong password protection strategies, including raising staff awareness about the importance of protecting credentials, can greatly reduce the risk of this type of data breach.

What information is considered confidential?

Confidential information is information disclosed by one party to another in any way that is designated as confidential. It can be communicated directly, indirectly, orally, in written form or by inspection of tangible objects like documents, prototypes, samples, production plants and equipment.