Maintaining confidentiality: health care's ongoing dilemma.

Confidentiality of patient information is an ethical obligation of health care professionals. The exercise of confidentiality is not a simple process; it is dynamic rather than static and must be upgraded with changes in technology. This article discusses some of the common issues that arise in maintaining confidentiality in the health care environment, including spoken and written breaches of confidentiality, use of the computer, confidentiality as an ethical rather than legal obligation, and the use of programs in health care institutions to maintain confidentiality.