Discussion Forum 9: Pro and Cons of Absolute Confidentiality 

Maintaining absolute privilege of confidentiality is a benefit to both the patient and the physician since it enables clients to avoid disclosing personal information such as HIV status in employment, absolute privilege also enables clinicians to avoid litigations resulting from careless disclosure of client information. However, absolute confidentiality is disadvantageous in that it limits justice since a doctor cannot expose information regarding their client. There are several justifications of limiting human service professional and client confidentiality. First, in the duty to warn a third party, physicians are permitted to reveal information about their client limiting the privilege of confidentiality. Secondly, confidentiality may be limited if a client is involved in a criminal offense and the physician is required by law to reveal the mental or health status of the patient.