There are three situations when a breach of confidentiality is justified:
- Abuse of a vulnerable person (child or elderly),
- a public health risk (communicable disease), or
- a substantial danger to the patient or others.
For example, chlamydia is a communicable disease. “Contacting sexual partners to notify and treat them to stem the spread of disease is recommended.”
Further Reading
STDs in patients with multiple partners: Confidentiality. Am Fam Physician 2006;74(11):1963-1964
https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/2/52/271401