ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how it is necessary for the patient to trust the doctor to preserve his confidence in the consultation. The question of patient confidentiality arises in many aspects of General Practitioner (GP) education. The first ethical principle that relates to the duty of confidence is that of non-maleficence. The GP receives a steady flow of requests from outside agencies for the release of information from the patient record held by the GP. It is the GPs responsibility as employer, to ensure that all the other members of the team are aware of the importance of preserving patient confidentiality. In the consulting room each is privy to the others responses to questions. The GP receives a steady flow of requests from outside agencies for the release of information from the patient record held by the GP. The protection of those at risk will override the responsibility to protect patient confidence.
