The duty of confidentiality – Modern day implications on herbal practice

Abstract

The practice of herbal medicine is evolving. Medical Herbalists are trained in much of the same academic material as orthodox medical doctors, they are increasingly sophisticated in their approach to patients and more rigorous in their scientific evaluation of the medicines applied for the therapeutic benefit of their patients. This is felt by many to be a necessary evolution if herbal medicine is to remain relevant to the practice of medicine during the 21st century.However, it is also important that the framework of professional conduct and ethics develops to support these advances in herbal medicine. Particularly if Medical Herbalists are to work in tandem with GPs or in secondary care settings, there must be in place a solid understanding of how to approach issues such as patient confidentiality. This is not a simple issue but is overlaid with legislation, case law and professional guidance which, although useful in enriching the picture, also require careful interpretation. This article aims to explain clearly the duty of confidentiality in herbal practice and examine what steps should be taken by a practitioner faced with such issues.