Bob thought it was okay for him to take Claire’s photo
because he had the consent of a family member. He also
thought it was acceptable for him to discuss Claire’s
condition because William previously worked with Claire.
So why was this behavior wrong? Because, first, merely
asking Claire’s brother for permission is not obtaining a
valid consent. Second, confidential information should
not be disclosed to persons no longer involved in the care
of a patient. Even though Bob made an honest mistake,
confidentiality rules must be strictly enforced to protect a
patient’s right to privacy