Ethics: Information Disclosure

Ethics and Practice Recap

• Disclosing personal information without consent can be justified if it prevents risk of death or serious harm to the patient or others
• Healthcare practitioners should seek consent to disclose if practical when third parties are at serious risk.
• If consent isn't possible, information should be promptly disclosed to a responsible person or authority, informing the patient beforehand when possible.

Circumstances for Information Disclosure

• A colleague putting patients at risk is one such circumstance
• Doubts about disclosure should be resolved by consulting a colleague or a professional organization
• Patient safety should always be prioritized
• A patient unfit to drive that continues to do so against medical advice is another such circumstance
• Health practitioners should consider disclosing this to the patient's next-of-kin, traffic authorities or the police
• Where such a patient is employed as a professional driver, the employer should be informed
• Disclosures that may assist in the prevention or detection of a serious crime is yet another circumstance
• Serious crimes here mean crimes that will put someone at risk of death or serious harm, and typically entail crimes against a person such as child abuse.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

• The HPCSA was established through the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974)
• The HPCSA’s function is to control and exercise authority in all matters relating to the education and training of healthcare professionals
• This is subject to legislation regulating healthcare providers and consistency with national policy as determined by the Minister
• The HPCSA serves as the quality assurance body for education and training in professions within its mandate

Council and Board Roles

• Professional boards have been established by the Council for healthcare professions to maintain and enhance the dignity of the professions
• Professional boards maintain professional integrity
• Boards determine, promote, and uphold education and training standards, maintaining registers for each profession

Professional Boards Authorization

• Professional Boards, in section 16(3) of the Act, can approve a higher education institution's (HEI) professional education and training program

Accreditation and Evaluation for Programs

• This approval happens through evaluation and accreditation processes
• The evaluation and accreditation processes include the HEI’s self-evaluation report, site visits by board-appointed panels, and board determination of whether standards are met.

Honesty and Ethical Integrity

• The process emphasizes the HEI's self-evaluation and continuous development
• The process relies upon honesty and ethical integrity in all aspects
• Quality education is attainable through various methods
• Program flexibility is acknowledged in the pursuit of excellence

Accreditation of HEI Programs

• Accreditation is granted to HEI's professional education and training programs that meet standards and requirements
• The validity of the accreditation is 5 years, following which it is re-evaluated
• Graduates from accredited programs can register with the HPCSA, legally practicing their profession with adequate education and training
• The Board may require graduates to pass an examination for HPCSA registration

Program Compliance is Necessary

• New programs and existing education and training programs that do not meet minimum standards will need to comply with Board recommendations for accreditation
• Learners who have not met the minimum program requirements will not be registered by the HPCSA, and will not be permitted to practice