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Client confidentiality is the principle that an institution or individual should not reveal information about their clients to a third party without the consent of the client or a clear legal reason. This concept, sometimes referred to as social systems of confidentiality , is outlined in numerous laws throughout many countries.
Confidentiality principle bolsters the therapeutic alliance, as it promotes an environment of trust. There are important exceptions to confidentiality, namely where it conflicts with the clinician's duty to warn or duty to protect. This includes instances of suicidal behavior or homicidal plans, child abuse, elder abuse and dependent adult abuse.
Despite the value and importance of protecting the client and their feelings, and thus the physician-client relationship, the court decided that the clinician's duty to society as a citizen of that society places certain limitations on the clinician's loyalty to a client's secrets, divulged in the context of the therapeutic relationship.
Some decried the court's decision as a limitation of the foundation for the therapeutic relationship and progress, the client's expectation of confidentiality. In 1979, Max Siegel, a former president of the American Psychological Association, defended the therapist's right to confidentiality as sacrosanct, under any circumstances. [5]
Almost all information that a client reveals during counseling is protected, unless the client intends to cause harm to themselves or others. The client's consent is almost always required for the reveal of information to a third party. Laws of privileged communication within applicable states also further protect the privacy of clients.
Further, the duty of confidentiality is a constant reminder to lawyers of the loyalty they owe to their clients. Another rationale is to protect the human dignity of the client. In criminal cases, confidentiality is also justified to prevent the use of tricked confessions or admissions .
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Attorney–client privilege or lawyer–client privilege is the common law doctrine of legal professional privilege in the United States. Attorney–client privilege is "[a] client's right to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications between the client and the attorney."