duty of confidentiality
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duty of confidentiality
The legal or contractual obligation of certain professional groups, such as doctors, lawyers, or therapists, not to pass on confidential information about clients or patients to third parties.
Der Arzt unterliegt der Schweigepflicht und darf keine Details über seine Patienten verraten.
The doctor is bound by the duty of confidentiality and may not disclose any details about his patients.
The word is a clear compound of 'schweigen' (to be silent) and 'die Pflicht' (a duty, a task one must fulfill). So it literally means the 'duty to remain silent'.
Auch nach Beendigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses gilt die Schweigepflicht weiter.
The duty of confidentiality continues to apply even after the employment relationship has ended.
Common verbs in this context are 'die Schweigepflicht haben' (to have a duty of confidentiality), 'die Schweigepflicht verletzen' (to violate the duty of confidentiality), or 'jemanden von der Schweigepflicht entbinden' (to release someone from the duty of confidentiality).
Wer vertrauliche Daten weitergibt, verletzt seine Schweigepflicht.
Anyone who passes on confidential data violates their duty of confidentiality.
A very typical and formal formulation is 'der Schweigepflicht unterliegen' (to be subject to the duty of confidentiality). The verb 'unterliegen' always requires the dative here.
Als Anwältin unterliegt sie einer strengen Schweigepflicht.
As a lawyer, she is subject to a strict duty of confidentiality.
This word is used almost exclusively in a professional context. It mainly concerns professions that deal with very personal data, such as doctors, psychologists, lawyers, and pastoral counselors.
Im Medizinstudium lernt man früh die Bedeutung der ärztlichen Schweigepflicht.
In medical school, students learn early on the importance of medical confidentiality.
confidentiality
'die Geheimhaltung' and 'die Schweigepflicht' both have to do with confidential information not being allowed to be passed on to others. 'Geheimhaltung' is more general and can apply in many situations, for example in a company, in a contract, or in a project. 'Schweigepflicht' is more specific: it means a legal or contractual duty of certain people, for example doctors, lawyers, or therapists. Learners may confuse the words because both express a duty not to tell others. When it is about a profession and confidential information about patients or clients, 'Schweigepflicht' is usually more precise.
Die Therapeutin darf wegen ihrer Schweigepflicht nichts über das Gespräch erzählen.
Because of her duty of confidentiality, the therapist is not allowed to say anything about the conversation.
Bei dem neuen Vertrag ist die Geheimhaltung aller Kundendaten besonders wichtig.
In the new contract, the confidentiality of all customer data is especially important.