Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
15
RESPECTING PRIVACY
To respect the person's and family's right to privacy, never disclose
the following information:
• The name of who you are visiting with
• The state of wellness of the ill person or family members
• Anything that is said to you by the person or family members
• Anything that you observe or overhear during your visit
• How the person died
• How the family members grieve
Neighbours and friends of the dying person and family may know
that you are a Baycrest volunteer and ask you questions. In those
situations, you should always suggest that they talk directly to the
family.
PROTECTING CONFIDENTIALITY
Breaching of confidentiality by a volunteer is a serious breach of
ethics and may result in termination.
The only time it is acceptable to break confidentiality is when there
is an unacceptable risk of harm to the individual or someone else.
This is done by the nurse or physician and includes the following
examples:
• A communicable disease that must be reported by law to the
authorities
• A medical condition (e.g. mental illness) that may result in
personal harm or harm to others
• A reasonable suspicion of abuse
