The document discusses the duty of confidentiality in medical practice. It begins by establishing that confidentiality is a core tenet, but one that physicians face challenges upholding. It then addresses where the duty comes from, what it requires, and what kinds of disclosures are inappropriate. Two exceptions for when confidentiality can be breached are discussed: danger to identifiable individuals and concern for public welfare such as reporting communicable diseases. The document concludes that without patient permission, sharing health information with family is generally unjustified unless they are at specific risk related to the diagnosis.