Industrial physician's responsibilities to his patients and to management--confidential records

There is no disagreement with the principle that the physician in industry should guard the confidentiality of information given to him by employees with the same consideration as any other physician. In practice, there are often pressures to violate this principle, especially with respect to disease-detection programs, but ultimately, industry, management and worker are served best where the physician can establish a reputation for trustworthiness, concern for individuals, and ability to convey information that management legitimately needs without compromising private information.