engleski

Privacy and confidelity in HIV testing of the seafarers in Croatia

Background Protection of privacy and confidentiality are basic human rights. Term “ privacy” has three forms: physical privacy ; informational privacy ; and privacy in decision making. All personal medical records are confidential, except if patient ask for revealing information to other party or in cases defined by law. In case when information regarding patient’ s health condition has serious impact to other people’ s health, it is justified that physician may break a rule of confidentiality. When dubious, the physician can consults medical association or chamber. Methods Review of literature and Croatian laws. Results The most common obstacles for being not HIV tested are fear of the consequences, expecting no benefit, perception of no dangers of HIV, cultural customs, lack of privacy during counselling, lack of assurance of confidentiality. According to codes of the Croatian Medical Association and Croatian Medical Chamber, a physician is not obligated to hold doctor’ s secret in case of threat to health and life of other persons. The right of confidentiality and privacy in accepting healthcare in Croatia is regulated by the Law of protection of the patient’ s rights. According to Criminal law, one knowing that spread a transmissible disease will be punished. There question arise, how much a position can protect privacy and confidentiality of the seafarers tested for HIV in case of positive result if employer ask to know the result of the testing. The physician must explain to the seafarer their rights in terms of confidentiality and privacy in process of getting the informed consent. But also, one must be notified that can be broken in case when information regarding one’ s health may be of particular importance and influence to health of the other members of the community. Conclusion Physician may reveal a result of HIV testing upon seafarer’ s request. Protection of the result’ s confidentiality and seafarer’ s privacy are matter of the one’ s himself or the employer.

confidelity; HIV; testing; seafarer

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