By Scoop Reporter
THE Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has appealed to medical practitioners attending to the 13 girls who have just been retrieved from their abductors to exhibit high level of professional ethics with regard to their privacy and confidentiality.
HPCZ Senior Public Relations Officer Terry Musonda says the 13 young girls by virtue of being in a medical facility(ies) are entitled to confidentiality and privacy as enshrined in the Clients/Patients Charter hence the need to uphold their rights by medical facilities attending to them.
“Would like to appeal to medical professionals who are involved in the treatment and handling of the case of the 13 young ladies who are in the health facilities to continue being professional by exercising maximum and high level of professionalism and ethics with regards to clients and patients confidentiality and privacy.
“The 13 young girls deserve that and they are not an exception from any other clients whom we handle in our facilities. The 13 young girls by virtue of being in a medical facility are entitled to confidentiality and privacy as enshrined in the Clients/Patients Charter,” Mr. Musonda said.
He also appealed to members of the public to desist from taking pictures and footage of them in hospital and circulating them on social media as this amounts to breach of confidentiality.
“To the general public, understandably so, this matter has generated a lot of interest and at the same time, we want to urge the public to respect and uphold the confidentiality of the 13 young girls under the circumstance.
“Yes, the public has the right to air their concern and opinions but we also want to encourage them that they need to be very particular and sensitive. For example, the issue of circulating pictures and footage under the circumstances at the time they are in health facilities is a breach of confidentiality
It is unethical to disclose any information and one can be sued
A very good call, it’s very truamatising.
This advice as come at the right time becoz some practitioners may be over excited and discourses or break theirs patient privacy
I was waiting for someone to say it the girls need privacy they have been through enough drama
Very true. The thirteen ladies need some privacy. Therefore anyone who will attempt to cross boundaries should be brought to book