Mercy House Ministries
Staff and Volunteer Confidentiality Statement and Agreement
All staff and volunteers who have access to personal information have responsibility by which they are bound to the client, Mercy House Ministries and all its agencies, the community and themselves. The agency's clients act in good faith, expecting that all their circumstances and personal matters will remain confidential. Thus, we are obligated both by law and by ethics to honor this trust.
Though not all inclusive, the following is presented to provide some guidelines concerning the matter of confidentiality. The "Agency" refers to Mercy House Ministries and all of its agencies. The "client" is any person who is served by Mercy House or any of its Agencies.
- No identifying information about the Agency's clients (names, addresses, social security numbers, physical disabilities, medical information, etc) should be revealed to anyone outside the agency and only to those in the Agency to whom the information is necessary for the welfare of the client.
- Discussing personal circumstances concerning a client, even though names, addresses or social security numbers are not revealed, is also considered a breach of confidentiality. That is, a volunteer might possibly describe in detail personal circumstances and information concerning a client for whom they have provided services, and even though the name and address is not revealed, this descriptive material may jeopardize the client's right to privacy. Thus, the discussion or description of a client's personal information or circumstances in considered detrimental to the client's right to confidentiality.
- The fact that a case has been made public through the news media does not alter the fact that the individual still has confidentiality privileges within Mercy House and all of its agencies. Thus, in these situations, confidentiality should still be maintained.
The named participant below (volunteer and/or staff) agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Mercy House for any demands, claims, lawsuits arising out of or due to the disclosure of confidential information gathered during the course of service for Mercy House. THIS INDEMNITY OBLIGATION INCLUDES INDEMNITY FOR THE NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, AND/OR FAULT OF MERCY HOUSE.