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Paula Patient doesn't want her violent boyfriend to know she's getting an abortion, so she asks Dr. Bob to send all communications to her to a post office box and to phone her only at work. What should Dr. Bob do, and what is the legal basis for your advice? If she tells Dr. Bob that not doing this will endanger her, would your answer be different?
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Dr. Bob should respect Paula's wishes and send all communications to her post office box and phone her only at work. This is based on the ethical principle of patient confidentiality, which requires medical professionals to maintain the confidentiality of any patient information that they receive in their work. However, if Paula tells Dr. Bob that not doing this will endanger her, then Dr. Bob has a duty to take additional steps to protect the patient. In this case, they should explain to her the legal duties and options that they have to protect her from possible abuse (such as notifying the police or working with a victim advocate). They should also take proactive measures to ensure that her safety is not compromised.
