Confidentiality and Collaboration The ethics of information sharing in health and social care

Anecdotes Mother Grandmother Schools

Data and Information Massive transformation Case conferences Databases Compatibility, eg PNIP International EU, eg sex offenders

Police, Security etc Police, security, Sex offenders register CRB Car number plates Prison, probation Immigration

Health Social Care etc Hospitals GPs Private Mental Health Social Services

Finance etc Tax Council tax Rent and Mortgage Bank Business Electoral Register

Rules for Access Law Ethics Professional practices ?Common Sense?

Purpose of Access 1 Individual, ?absolute right? Relatives and friends, Power of Attorney Public authorities, eg tax Benefit fraud, Sickness, Disability? Private Investigators, Hacking Marketing material

Purpose of Access 2 Police/security – Level of crime – Serious and organised – Terrorism – Suspected – Criminal Record Public protection, eg disease, diabetes Genetic? Sarah’s Law?

Who Makes Rules? Law + Judges – Human Rights Act – RIPA Ethics Professional practices ?Common Sense?

Who Makes Judgement? Individual Professional Group of Professionals / Case Conference ‘Public Interest’, Executive, Judicial

Qualities of judgement Facts, easier said than done Legal, professional ethical frameworks Wider consequences, eg trust Conventional opinion, impact on practice Openness and Transparency Confidentiality – both ways ‘Moral courage’

Always a Balance Few absolutes (Swiss banks!) Different ethical frameworks not better or worse, just different Procedures for resolving differences Not always time

Damned if you do Damned if you don’t Social Work Health Probation Police

Regular reform of Law Parliament High Court judgements Ethics should be part of debate about law Professional standards

Conclusion Important debate Inter-professional dialogue essential Informed public discussion Balance always need to be struck No absolutes