key: cord-1020315-njj3g8z5 authors: Saeedi Tehrani, Saeedeh; Hashemi, Akram; Madani, Mansureh; Forouzandeh, Mina title: Confidentiality challenges surrounding plasma therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case discussion in Iran date: 2020-12-21 journal: J Med Ethics Hist Med DOI: 10.18502/jmehm.v13i27.5044 sha: a727feef6728270b8b6af21e6f178a8fc3118ebc doc_id: 1020315 cord_uid: njj3g8z5 Maintaining confidentiality, both in national and international codes of ethics, is considered an important principle in healthcare and the medical profession for both patients and physicians. This case-report article focused on a real case. Based on the request of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) for plasma donation from recovered COVID-19 patients, we asked the names and personal information of those patients from hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) and arranged for the subjects to be referred to the Medical Ethics Department of IUMS for consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Various ethical and legal aspects of this case were discussed in a special meeting, and practical solutions were then provided considering the limits of confidentiality and conditions for ethical access to patients’ information during a pandemic. Since plasma therapy is not a definitive cure for COVID-19 and considering the ethical and legal points presented in this article, it is not recommended to announce the names of patients in the early stages. Given the potential impacts of the procedure and the possibility of patients being cured, however, their consent should be obtained in different situations and, if necessary, providing information to patients or educating them should be considered. To conduct research and provide treatment using plasma therapy, the Iranian Blood In most guidelines and codes of medical Article 648 of the Islamic penal code Hippocratic oath and conversion of ethico-regulatory aspects onto doctors as a physician, private individual and a clinical investigator Communication, confidentiality and consent in mental health care Analysis of medical confidentiality from the islamic ethics perspective The four principles: can they be measured and do they predict ethical decision making Bioethical principles and medical futility Patient perspectives on medical confidentiality: a review of the literature Clarifying the confusion about HIPAA-compliant texting New rules announced on confidentiality of US patient records The effect of privacy legislation on observational research The personal information protection and electronic documents act (PIPEDA) Canada: will privacy rules continue to favour open science? Breaching confidentiality: medical mandatory reporting laws in Iran Cancer registry in Iran: a brief overview Challenges of confidentiality in clinical settings: compilation of an ethical guideline Confidentiality: a comparative study between medical ethics principles and Islamic ethics Medical record information disclosure laws and policies among selected countries; a comparative study Moral dilemmas and realistic vision in the field of health with regard to confidentiality Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with convalescent plasma Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 patients with convalescent plasma reveals a signal of significantly decreased mortality Hyperimmune IV immunoglobulin treatment: a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial for patients with severe 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection SARS: systematic review of treatment effects Management of COVID-19 virus infection by convalescent plasma Treatment of COVID-19 with convalescent plasma: lessons from past coronavirus outbreaks Convalescent plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID-19: practical considerations: correspondence Ethical considerations of futile care The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Department of Medical Ethics, School of Medicine of Iran University of Medical Sciences. None.