Duty of Confidentiality and Data Protection - A Heartfelt Issue

Given the advances in digital diagnostics and in the processing and transfer of data and because of the imminent introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (which will come into force in May of this year), doctor-patient confidentiality and data protection are highly topical issues. Violations of the duty of confidentiality or of data protection regulations may be severely prosecuted. Physicians should therefore regularly take some time to think about the scope of doctor-patient confidentiality. Setting up a data protection management system is additionally recommended in order to be able to prove at all times that the processing and transfer of data and relevant measures taken were lawful.