Tajemnica lekarska jako podstawa zaufania w relacji pacjent – lekarz
Medical confidentiality as the foundation of trust in patient-doctor relations

Summary/Abstract: The paper indicates that while medical confidentiality is obviously not unconditional, it shouldbe remembered that it is a principle with exemptions enumerated in the stipulations of article 40, section 2 of the Act on medical profession and in the Act on patient’s rights and the Commissionerfor the Patient. It is also emphasized that, in accordance with article 40, section 2 of theAct on medical profession, medical confidentiality may only be breached to the extent required.In the author’s opinion, it is obvious that patients have both a psychological need and legal interestin preventing disclosure of information related to their medical history. In order to exercisecomprehensive control over the flow of information that concerns them, patients need both theinstitution of medical confidentiality and the instruments provided by the protection of personaldata procedures, which complement each other. If such an assumption is made, it facilitates thecomprehensive protection of patients’ rights to observe the confidentiality of their medical datain all forms: oral, written or digital. Ensuring such control is indispensable from the point ofview of citizens of a democratic state and an individual functioning in an information society.

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