Health law and information

Abstract

The law, as an ordered of behaviors, has established a series of constitutional and legal rules that regulate the information that in the health topics can be given by the journalists and the medicine professionals. In Colombia there isn't a law or decree that expressly and totally regulates "health information" and that is why we must remit to the rules and veredicts that have been referred to these aspects. The Political Constitution of 1991 devotes the protection to the journalistic activity, freedom of expression, the rights to privacy, honor and health, as well as the responsibility in the practice of all the rights by all the individuals. A medical doctor has the legal responsibility of keeping the professional secret and to adjuste to the rules that on publicity and medical works has the Law 23 of 1981. On the other hand, the journalist must obey the Constitution and the laws, must practice his profession in accordance to the social function it develops and must watch that his conduct fits to moral and ethical principles. The information that can be given to the community about health is that with wich you endeavor the whole care of this right, without revealing the personal data of the patients. The freedom of expression is not an absolute right since it finds limits on the privacy of the people as it is established by the legal rules, the doctrine and the jurisprudence.