To tell or not to tell? Physiotherapy students’ responses to breaking patient confidentiality

Abstract

Confidentiality is known to be a challenging aspect of physiotherapy practice. This paper explores current guidance available to the profession in New Zealand. Using a contentious real life case study from health care practice nine undergraduate physiotherapy students were asked to provide their responses to the ethically complex scenario using the Values Exchange web-based decision making tool. In line with anecdotal evidence this small scale study found the students effectively confronted and worked through the inherent tension between autonomy and beneficence as they used the online technology to attempt to balance the right to confidentiality with their desire to protect the patient. Students also showed an appreciation of the complexity of their decisions and the Values Exchange facilitated a foundation for physiotherapy students to consider their professional role in contemporary physiotherapy practice. A larger study is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings.