Reducing Stigma and Discrimination Through the Protection of Privacy and Confidentiality

Depending on the type of service and the nature of the relationship with the client, different precautions are needed to protect confidentiality. [...] An overview of privacy legislation in Canada and links to additional resources are available on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s website at (see Privacy legislation in Canada fact sheet, updated 2014 and The application of PIPEDA to municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals, updated 2015). [...] Given the sensitivity of health information and the serious implications of disclosure to a third party, you should talk about the duty of confidentiality and its limits with your clients, rather than solely relying on consent forms and printed copies of policies. [...] If you or your organization are, or are seen to be, giving information to the police, your work could be compromised; · if you have a client who has been charged or believes they may be under investigation, direct the client (or their defence lawyer) to Responding to the criminalization of HIV transmission or exposure: Resources for lawyers and advocates, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 2010; and [...] The risk of being successfully sued depends on various factors, including the: · service provider’s relationship with the person thought to be at risk of harm (whether that person is their client or not); · nature of the danger, its foreseeability and imminence; and · mandate of the service provider or organization.