##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Download
Statistic
Read Counter : 208

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Abstract

This paper makes an appraisal of medical confidentiality under the cameroonian law. Hence, it examines the duty of confidentiality and how the principle of confidentiality operate in Cameroon? What are the justifications for medical confidentiality? How can medical confidentiality be breached? How is medical confidentiality terminated? Based on the ensuing above, the paper examines the origins and concept of medical confidentiality. It further investigates the justifications of medical confidentiality and circumstances which medical confidentiality comes to an end. Findings reveal that the duty of medical confidentiality remains sacrosanct principle in medical professional-patient secrecy relationship in Cameroon. This is buttressed by the need to preserve the moral and integrity of patients, re-enforce patient doctor trust. This duty is breached where information with the quality of confidentiality is being divulge, where the information given in confidence and an unauthorized use of information. The study presents redress through criminal, civil administration and disciplinary sanctions against the offender. However, medical confidentiality is not absolute but qualified in Cameron due to consent of the patient, medical experts, legal requirement and further medical research

Keywords

Medical medical Professional Patient Secrecy Confidentiality

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite
Akame Winslow Melle, & Akwe Ray Ngole Junior. (2021). An Appraisal of Medical Confidentiality Under the Cameroon Medical Law and Ethics. Texas Journal of Medical Science, 2, 10–16. https://doi.org/10.62480/tjms.2021.vol2.pp10-16
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

  1. Angus H. Ferguson (2016), Should a Doctor Tell? The Evolution of Medical Confidentiality in Britain, Routledge, New York, USA, P. 1.
  2. J.K. Mason & G.T. Laurie (2006), Mason & McCall Smith’s Law and Medical Ethics, 7th ed, Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
  3. Nonga J. M.(1990), « Le Secret Medical », A maitrise dissertation in Private Law, University of Yaoundé, Faculty of law and Economics.
  4. Ronald Goldfarb (2009), In Confidence: When to protect Secrecy and when to require disclosure, 1st edition, Sheridan books, USA.
  5. Adna Ebude Enang (2017), The Responsibility of Medical Doctors under Cameroonian Law, PhD Thesis, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Yaoundé II Soa.
  6. Xaviera Hollander (2007), The Happy Hooker’s Code of Ethics, Wash Post, p.5.
  7. Mason & McCall Smith’s (2006), Law and Medical Ethics, 7th edition, Oxford University Press, New York.
  8. Decree No. 83- 166 of 12 April 1983 on the Cameroon Code of Medical Ethics.
  9. Law No.90-036 of 10th August 1990 relating to the Organisation and Practice of medicine in Cameroon.
  10. Decree No. 94/199 of October 7, bearing the general status of the State’s Public Service, section 94.