Singapore legislation
Section 43
Section 43
Confidentiality of information
(1)
Except in the case of prosecution of an offence under this Act, an authorised officer is not compellable in any proceedings to give evidence in respect of, or to produce any document containing, any information which has been obtained from any approved provider or approved institution in the course of carrying out any inspection, assessment or performing any duty or function under this Act.
(2)
Despite subsection (1), an authorised officer must not disclose any information which is contained in the medical records, or which relates to the condition, treatment or diagnosis, of any person, as may have come to the officer’s knowledge in the course of carrying out any inspection or assessment or performing any duty or function under this Act unless the disclosure is made —
under or for the purpose of administering and enforcing this Act or the Infectious Diseases Act 1976;
for the purpose of any disciplinary proceedings under the Medical Registration Act 1997; or
for any other purpose with the consent of the person to whom the information relates or the representative of that person.
(3)
In subsection (2)(c), “representative” means —
the executor, administrator or next‑of‑kin of a deceased person; or (b)in relation to a person who lacks capacity within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2008 —
a donee of a lasting power of attorney which is granted by that person under that Act, and under which that person confers on the donee authority to consent on that person’s behalf to such disclosure; or
a deputy who is appointed or deemed to be appointed for that person by the court under that Act, and who is conferred power to consent on that person’s behalf to such disclosure.