Biomaterial Database

The basis of privacy and autonomy in medical practice. A model. 1982

W J Friedlander

Most of the medical literature concerned with privacy seems to be based on the implicit assumptions that there is such a thing as right-to-privacy and that privacy is a worthwhile end unto itself. This paper develops a model which should permit a better and more pragmatic understanding of the moral, ethical and psychosocial bases of these assumptions. Arguments are offered that privacy is, indeed, not mainly an intrinsic value but is more of an instrumental value. It is suggested that privacy, per se, is not an end but is, rather, a means to another end, autonomy. It is important to differentiate autonomy as used here from narcissism; the former is viewed as an advanced stage of cognitive development whereas the latter is a social deviance. The model is developed which states: the analogy of a person is as a unit consisting of a matrix which is unique and autonomous because of its separation from other units by means of a wall-of-privacy; the relationship between persons is measured by their social distance. Derived from this is the 'equation', A approximately equal to (P)(D). Intimacy, substitutive judgement, confidentiality and patient-physician relationship are conceptualized within this model.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008960	Models, Psychological	Theoretical representations that simulate psychological processes and/or social processes. These include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Model, Mental,Model, Psychological,Models, Mental,Models, Psychologic,Psychological Models,Mental Model,Mental Models,Model, Psychologic,Psychologic Model,Psychologic Models,Psychological Model
D010550	Personal Space	Invisible boundaries surrounding the individual's body which are maintained in relation to others.	Body Buffer Zone,Privacy of Space,Peripersonal Space,Body Buffer Zones,Buffer Zone, Body,Buffer Zones, Body,Peripersonal Spaces,Personal Spaces,Space Privacy,Space, Peripersonal,Space, Personal,Spaces, Peripersonal,Spaces, Personal,Zone, Body Buffer,Zones, Body Buffer
D010817	Physician-Patient Relations	The interactions between physician and patient.	Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D003219	Confidentiality	The privacy of information and its protection against unauthorized disclosure.	Patient Data Privacy,Privacy of Patient Data,Privileged Communication,Confidential Information,Secrecy,Communication, Privileged,Communications, Privileged,Data Privacy, Patient,Information, Confidential,Privacy, Patient Data,Privileged Communications
D004992	Ethics, Medical	The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families.	Medical Ethics
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012650	Self Disclosure	A willingness to reveal information about oneself to others.	Disclosure, Self,Disclosures, Self,Self Disclosures
D012929	Psychological Distance	The degree of a person's detachment from emotional involvement with people or situations.(APA Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms accessed 12/29/2020)	Distance, Psychological,Psychological Distances
D012932	Social Facilitation	Any enhancement of a motivated behavior in which individuals do the same thing with some degree of mutual stimulation and consequent coordination.	Facilitation, Social,Facilitations, Social,Social Facilitations
D012945	Social Values	Abstract standards or empirical variables in social life which are believed to be important and/or desirable.	Value Orientation,Values, Social,Value Orientations

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