Respecting and breaking confidences: conceptual, ethical and educational issues

Issues of confidentiality are an integral part of professional nursing practice, hence reflection on these issues is an integral part of nurse education. 'Respecting and breaking confidences: conceptual, ethical and educational issues' argues that reflection must take account of at least two conceptual issues, namely, what is confidential information? and what constitutes a breach of confidentiality? An answer to these questions is logically presupposed by the ethical questions considered, i.e. what should clients be told about the parameters of confidentiality at the first point of contact? and what would justify a breach of confidence? The discussion is anchored in a critique of the Advisory Paper (1987) on confidentiality, published by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. It concludes by drawing out some implications for nurse education.