Medical confidentiality.

The Hippocratic definition of Confidentiality, i.e. the absolute and without any exceptions observation of secrecy by the physicians, expresses the Hippocratic philosophy in Medicine. Hippocratic Medicine is completely individualized--the physician's sole responsibility is the patient's well being. Confidentiality undoubtedly strengthens the trust in the patient-physician relationship and mutual trust is indispensable for both diagnostic work-up and therapeutic applications. Exceptions to confidentiality might be required in order to protect the society from infectious communicable disease, from dangerous patients and for the scientific progress. However, it is not easy at all to decide for exceptions to confidentiality. The profound changes of the human societies in the end of the 20th century, the fantastic progress in Medicine and Science and the completely different approach to the delivery of medical services in modern times, make necessary the re-evaluation of medical deontology and medical confidentiality.