title: Confidentiality: a critique of the traditional view.
abstract: 'Confidentiality' can become a somewhat embellishing signboard for paternalistic caring. In essence, one needs to distinguish between confidentiality as a respectful attitude to a patient/client, where it becomes credible that the caring professional will not misuse the information he or she obtains about the patient/client, and between confidentiality misused as an instrument of power to keep the patient/client outside of processes in which it might be important or advantageous for him or her to participate.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee, Ninewells, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003219:Confidentiality; D004645:Empathy; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D026706:Paternalism; D033283:Patient Access to Records; D028701:Patient Rights; D011209:Power, Psychological