Confidentiality and Patient Trust

Course overview

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of ethical acupuncture practice and the fundamental basis for establishing trust between practitioners and patients. In clinical practice, some patients are reluctant to disclose information they perceive as sensitive, such as bipolar disorder, a history of substance use, etc. which directly affects diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes. This course, from both the practitioner's and the patient's perspectives, explores the practical significance of privacy protection in clinical care, the professional obligations inherent in the duty of confidentiality, and how to navigate the competing considerations between patient privacy rights and treatment needs in complex clinical situations.