Medical Confidentiality and Patient Privacy: The Jewish Perspective

Abstract

This article presents the approach of Jewish law to the major issue of medical confidentiality and patient privacy. For an extensive discussion of Jewish medical ethics and an in-depth presentation of the Jewish view of 39 major issues in medical ethics, the reader is referred elsewhere [15]. Briefly, the Jewish view toward medical ethical subjects is predicated on the general principle of the supreme value of human life. In Judaism, all biblical and rabbinic laws are temporarily waived in order to save a human life. Physicians are obligated to heal patients from their illness, to induce remission and cure of disease whenever possible. Similarly, patients are obligated to lead healthy lifestyles, to consult physicians when they are sick and to be compliant with the physician's therapeutic recommendations. The Jewish view on medical confidentiality and patient privacy as presented in this essay flows from these general principles of Jewish medical ethics.