ABSTRACT
The expectation of confidentiality is central to a patient's trust in a dentist and the obligation to maintain confidence has been a vital part of the code of medical ethics laid down throughout history. The General Dental Council (GDC) makes a clear statement with regard to confidentiality. The dentist/patient relationship is founded on trust and a dentist should not disclose, to a third party, information about a patient acquired in a professional capacity without the permission of the patient. Confidentiality will almost always be absolute. It is a key requirement of good clinical practice. Several noted court cases have established the legal duty of confidence and developed the principle that there are three elements required to establish a breach of that duty. They are, information must have the necessary quality of confidence; information must be disclosed in circumstances implying an obligation of confidence; and unauthorised disclosure would cause harm to the confider.
