What happens if client confidentiality is broken

Are there situations in which confidentiality may be breached? The answer to the above question is yes. Note the notion of public interest is flexible and there are no clear rules about when it would apply. Generally, it would arise in circumstances in which there is a real or immediate risk of danger to the public or a single person, and the risk is sufficiently grave. This might for example therefore include when there is a threat to national security; or contacting the authorities if a health practitioner is aware that a patient is going to cause serious harm to someone or to commit a crime.

What might happen if confidentiality is breached in other circumstances? For example, it may lead to: Disciplinary action by the employer of the person who made the disclosure. The imposition of a fine or other penalty when there is a contravention of a statutory duty of confidence. Confidentiality and Privacy Regimes. Find out more. Employers will not look favorably on any prospective employees who were terminated due to a confidentiality breach, or convicted of a crime related to that type of violation.

In the long run, a person who violates the privacy of a patient or client, or violates the confidentiality of an employer, will find it difficult to shake that reputation for the rest of their professional life.

Sampson Quain is an experienced content writer with a wide range of expertise in small business, digital marketing, SEO marketing, SEM marketing, and social media outreach.

He has written primarily for the EHow brand of Demand Studios as well as business strategy sites such as Digital Authority. By Sampson Quain Updated October 25, Importance of Video Camera Surveillance in a Workplace. As an accountant, you're required to comply with codes of practice when handling confidential information, which means clients often speak openly and reveal information to you that could damage their business if it got into the wrong hands.

As an HR consultant, maintaining confidentiality when working with a client is essential for building integrity with business leaders and management.

Clients must be able trust you to openly share the information you need to do your job. There are a small number of cases when breaching confidentiality might be OK. Here are some of them:. Despite your best efforts, sometimes breaches can still happen. Talk with your supervisor and tell them what you have observed or overheard and express your concerns. Ask that all staff receive training in confidentiality, why it is important and how to maintain it.

Breaching procedures All agencies should have guidelines and procedures to store and maintain client information and they should have policies on what should happen if these guidelines and procedures are breached. These include — A client tells you they have committed a serious crime — Serious crime covers offences such as drug trafficking, serious assaults, sexual assaults, murder and manslaughter.

It does not include minor possession offences or any offences under public health legislation. If the client is a child and is being abused or at risk of abuse —see mandatory reporting guidelines If you are concerned that the client might harm themselves or someone else If a child is under the age of 16 years, and especially under the age of 14 years, parents legally have the right to know what happens in counselling Making records available to the police if they have a warrant to inspect documents Responding to a request under the freedom or information legislation Responding to a summons or subpoena.

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