Is a doctor allowed to reveal or share any details learned during treatment of a patient?

Doctors are ethically obliged to maintain strict confidentiality to protect the privacy and dignity of the patients they treat. Therefore, they cannot divulge any secrets learnt during the treatment of a patient, except in some cases. For instance, if a Court orders it or there is a risk to the community. For the same reason, they are also not allowed to publish pictures of patients from which they can be identified, without their consent. ¹ If the identity of the patient is not revealed from the picture or consent is given by them, then the doctor may use it for publication.

1. Section 7.17, Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 [↩]