Medical confidentiality related to the adolescent patient: a theoretical view

Abstract

The present article focuses on medical confidentiality in the relationship with adolescent patient as parameter pervading the physician-patient relationship. Medical confidentiality is part of the ethical values and the legal rulings that must be followed by (the) health professionals. It is a duty inherent to the medical professional performance. This study was accomplished by means of bibliographical research with data collection in electronic bases. Its aim is to know and reflect about what has been published in the scientific literature in respect to medical confidentiality in the relationship with the adolescent patient. Taking care of adolescents constitutes a challenge for (the) health professionals due to the specificity involving (which involves) this phase of the human development. Therefore, it is necessary to acknowledge that there are not any single norms for solving the several situations presented, but, to that end, it is necessary to observe the hierarchical principles attempting to reconcile the best solutions.