I'm just wondering why it's so difficult and important for a professional (in the counseling field for example) to follow the code revolving around confidentiality.
arthur s
Favorite Answer
The laws of confidentiality are founded within Codes of Conduct. Professionals are also governed by the Data Protection Act.
Counselors, therapists, Doctors, lawyers etc all have their own Codes of Conduct by which they are bound.
In the case of counseling - they are duty bound to treat anything which they learn in a counseling session as confidential. As with most professions, the only circumstances in which they can break their Code of contravene the Data Protection Act 1984 (by disclosing information to a third party without the Client's consent) would be where they are dealing with a vulnerable minor whom they consider to be in immediate and serious danger. Even under these circumstances, a breach would only occur after very serious consideration and, probably, after seeking a professional legal opinion.