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Abstract: This paper will briefly discuss the duty of confidentiality from an ethical, legal, and professional perspective, especially maternal confidentiality where any analysis should consider the consequences for the patient, the fetus and the father. We will explain why patient confidentiality is considered vital and delineate the ways in which the General Medical Council and the laws of England and Wales protect the rights of patients to privacy. We will also discuss situations where breaches are permissible or mandatory and remind clinicians of traditional challenges that exist in trying to maintain patient privacy. We will consider the issue of confidentiality in the age of the internet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Psychiatric inpatients are particularly vulnerable to the transmission and effects of COVID-19. As such, healthcare providers should implement measures to prevent its spread within mental health units, including adequate testing, cohorting, and in some cases, the isolation of patients. Respiratory isolation imposes a significant limitation on an individual's right to liberty, and should be accompanied by appropriate legal safeguards. This paper explores the implications of respiratory isolation in English law, considering the applicability of the common law doctrine of necessity, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Mental Health Act 1983, and public health legislation. We then interrogate the practicality of currently available approaches by applying them to a series of hypothetical cases. There are currently no 'neat' or practicable solutions to the problem of lawfully isolating patients on mental health units, and we discuss the myriad issues with both mental health and public health law approaches to the problem. We conclude by making some suggestions to policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]