Applying the ethical framework in practice1. Ethical Implications of a Breach of Confidentiality Ethics is the concept of right and wrong and therefore it is difficult to arrive at a universal view of what should be right and wrong. In the context of the medical field, professionals are constantly required to access very delicate and sensitive information about people and patients. Thus, these professionals are regularly confronted with circumstances regarding concepts such as confidentiality and privacy. Keeping this private and sensitive information confidential can be both a legal and ethical challenge (Boylan, 2013). When we talk about an ethical challenge, we are referring to whether this private information can be easily shared and discussed with others by healthcare professionals who have access to it. We discuss these points from different perspectives below. Confidentiality or privacy is essential to ensure the trustworthiness of doctors, healthcare professionals and patients. Patients have the right to expect and know what details about them will be held in confidence (Hope, Hope, & Savulescu, 2008). According to the University of Washington School of Medicine, there is no obligation of confidentiality that is obligatory in all circumstances. (University of Washington, 1998). There are legal rules and regulations that protect and limit patient privacy. Confidentiality can be violated in two circumstances. The first is when there is genuine concern for someone other than the patient. This person can be a child, a spouse or even someone unrelated to the patient. The other case where there could be a violation is where there is genuine concern for the well-being of the general population. This may occur in the case where the patient has a highly communicable or infectious disease that can infect the general public if