In Norway, all health professionals are bound by the duty of confidentiality.
This means that the information you share with health professionals will not be shared with others without your express permission, not even police or other authorities. The exception is when there is danger to life and health.
You can also receive advice/counselling and medical treatment and visit a doctor without your partner or family finding out.
Health professionals are still bound by the duty of confidentiality after they quit their jobs.
Exceptions from the confidentiality duty
There are certain exceptions to the duty of confidentiality. Health professionals may be exempted from the confidentiality duty
- if you give your permission: You may exempt health professionals from the confidentiality duty by giving them your permission to share certain information with others. Your have the right to be informed about who the information is shared with, what information is shared, and potential consequences of sharing this information with others. Parents must give their permission on behalf of their children younger than 16.
- to ensure diligent medical care: Health professional may share information about your medical condition with other health professionals if this is necessary to ensure diligent medical care. You have the right to refuse sharing of information, but you must then notify the staff.
- to ensure health and life: Health professional have a duty to notify the authorities when your life or the life of others is at stake. This can be the case if there is suspicion that a child is mistreated at home, if a pregnant women misuses drugs in such a way that it is very likely that it will harm the child, if someone does not meet the medical requirements for a driver's license, or if it is necessary to allow police or the fire department to prevent damage to person or property.
Exception: infectious disease
It can be the case with some diseases that your doctor must inform the health authority of the disease. This happens when a infectious disease can be dangerous for other people.
If it is very likely that you might or already have infected someone with a dangerous disease, your doctor may inform him/her. The doctor must inform someone in they are at a great risk of being infected with a dangerous disease.
