What is double confidentiality?

Asked by: Dr. Dean Runte II  |  Last update: October 10, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (45 votes)

Double confidentiality means that your counselor agrees to never speak of what is shared outside of a session to anyone. However, double confidentiality means that she also agrees to refrain from acknowledging your professional relationship outside the session.

What is a two way confidentiality agreement?

Also known as mutual NDAs or two-way NDAs, bilateral NDAs require both parties to disclose their confidential information to each other. Both parties can limit how the other party will use and share their information.

What are the 2 definitions of confidentiality?

The term 'confidentiality' means preserving authorized restrictions on access and disclosure, including means for protecting personal privacy and proprietary information.

What are the 3 limits of confidentiality?

The following situations typically legally obligate therapists to break confidentiality and seek outside assistance: Detailed planning of future suicide attempts. Other concrete signs of suicidal intent. Planned violence towards others.

What is considered breaking confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality occurs when information given in confidence is disclosed to a third party without consent. Most confidentiality breaches happen accidentally. Regardless, those affected can still face financial losses and reputational damage as a result.

What is Confidentiality

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Can you sue for breaking confidentiality?

If your doctor violates the duty of doctor-patient confidentiality, you can bring a lawsuit against him or her with the help of a breach of confidentiality lawyer. A confidentiality breach is a form of medical malpractice that's punishable by law.

What are the three times to break confidentiality?

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 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 overrides confidentiality?

The clearest situations in which confidentiality can be justifiably overridden are those in which the patient places another person or the community at significant risk of serious harm. Confidentiality is a prima facie duty. It may be validly overridden by more compelling obligations.

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.

When can confidentiality be broken?

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

What is strict confidentiality?

: not made known to the public or other people : private. Your personal information will be kept in strict/strictest confidence.

What information is considered confidential?

Confidential information refers to private information released to the receiving party, orally or in writing. The disclosing party expects that this information is not released to the public or any third parties.

What voids a confidentiality agreement?

Unreasonable scope of the agreement

Setting an unrealistic duration or harsh restrictive terms, like an NDA that lasts a lifetime, can invalidate the agreement. Similarly, having an overly broad agreement that covers information that is not confidential can result in legal complications.

Can confidentiality be violated legally?

Yes, certain exceptions exist. For example, a legal subpoena may force the disclosure of material protected by a confidentiality agreement. Similarly, whistleblowers may breach agreements when acting in the public interest to expose illegal or unethical acts.

What is a secret agreement between two individuals?

A Confidential Disclosure Agreement [(CDA), also referred to as non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or secrecy agreement, is a legal agreement between a minimum of two parties which outlines information the parties wish to share with one another for certain evaluation purposes, but wish to restrict from wider use and ...

What is the burden of proof for breach of confidentiality?

Note that the damaged party bears the burden of proof in a confidentiality breach case. This means that if you bring this matter to court, you are responsible for proving that the confidentiality violation actually happened, the violating party is liable for the breach, and you suffered damage from the violation.

What constitutes a breach of confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality is when data or private information is disclosed to a third party without the data owner's consent.

When can confidentiality be compromised?

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).

What is the simple confidentiality rule?

Simple Confidentiality Rule specifies that the Subject may only read documents protected by the same layer of secrecy and the lower layer of secrecy, but not the upper layer of secrecy. For this reason, we refer to this rule as NO READ-UP.

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 the code of ethics for confidentiality?

The Code of Ethics identifies the confidentiality of information pertaining to clients, patients, students, and research subjects as a matter of ethical obligation, not just as a matter of legal or workplace requirements.

What can therapists not keep confidential?

Are there any exceptions to confidentiality? Yes, there are some circumstances where confidentiality cannot be maintained. For example, a therapist must report suspected child abuse, neglect, or imminent harm to self or others. Therapists may also have to release records if subpoenaed by a court of law.

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.

Is it a crime to break confidentiality?

Criminal Charges

In some cases, breaches of confidentiality may even carry the possibility of criminal action. Criminal charges arise only in extreme cases that resulted in significant financial, emotional, or physical loss to the victim.