I know confidentiality is considered one of the most important things in medicine, but I learned from a friend working in another country how we in the west treat confidentiality, isn't necessarily right for everyone.
My friend is from Zimbabwe, but works with me here in Europe, and she told me what is was like when HIV really got hold of her home country. She describes how all the parents died, and the grandparents were left raising the grandchildren - she banded some of these grandmothers together and now has a charity helping children.
Anyway, she was saying that even when the WHO and other powers made effective medication free for many people in third world countries like hers, people kept on dying, when they shouldn't, especially young men.
She said a lot of the doctors treated patients like they would in the west, and when they first told a young man he was HIV positive, they would tell him in utmost confidence, and outline his treatment plan, and how to take his meds and when to have follow-up appointments and when to get extra help.
The men would leave, not take their meds, and eventually die.
My colleague and friend said confidentiality is different where she is, and you would never tell a young man or woman such a diagnosis, and would automatically involved the whole family. You wouldn't even ask if the family should be there, you would automatically tell them all to be there. Then the patient with HIV became not just a family issue, but a community/village one, and the outcomes suddenly reversed and people stopped dying. It also made a huge difference in stopping parents passing on the virus to their children.
I know in the west, to do something like this goes against everything we're taught. And I'm not saying one is more right than the other, as that is not the issue, but it was really interesting to hear such a significant cultural difference.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll be picked to pieces for this. But I genuinely think it quite fascinating and hope someone out there does to.
My thoughts on the topic are thus: utilizing a person-in-environment approach and working within the guidelines of your pertinent jurisdiction provides a framework within which to operate.
My thoughts on the topic are thus: utilizing a person-in-environment approach and working within the guidelines of your pertinent jurisdiction provides a framework within which to operate.
I've always thought the secrecy here in the states about medical status and issues is kind of odd. I think we're stuck in this bubble thinking that we should all have privacy... but if no one had privacy about medical issues then we would all have to deal with lifes ills as a villiage. I think the fear is that people would discriminate against people of certain medical status? I feel like everyone's glasshouse would be in display... in a perfect world no one would throw stones
*scratches head* 
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Imma gonna go with "mostly".