4.1 Assess if access is appropriate
Confidentiality is a right, and proxy access must be balanced alongside this right.
Proxy access must only be granted where it is in the patient's best interests, and where providing it creates minimal risk of inhibiting the patient's freedom to confidently access care and communicate freely when they do.
To assess if proxy access is appropriate, clinical professionals and staff should establish that it is:
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Necessary. Is proxy access necessary to improve the quality of the patient's care?
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Relevant. What is the extent and duration of proxy access that is needed?
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Safe. Is it safe for the proxy to have access to the patient's information?
Last edited: 6 May 2026 1:56 pm
Chapters
- DAPB3051 Identity Verification and Authentication Standard for Health and Care, Authorisation Use Case: Proxy
- Glossary
- Use of the terms "must" and "should" in this guidance
- 1.0 Overview
- 1.1 Purpose of this standard
- 1.2 Who this standard applies to
- 1.3 What this standard does not cover
- 1.4 Compatibility with other standards and guidelines
- 2.1 Types of proxy access: formal and informal proxy access
- 2.2 Types of proxy access: Records access by a clinical professional
- 3.0 Roles and responsibilities
- 4.0 Grant proxy access
- 4.1 Assess if access is appropriate
- 4.1.1 Establish whether access is necessary
- 4.1.2 Establish whether access is relevant
- 4.1.3 Establish whether access is safe
- 4.2 Establish a basis for access
- 4.3 Check evidence relevant to the basis for access
- 4.3.1 Verify the proxy and patient’s identity
- 4.3.2 Understand if the patient has the ability to consent
- 4.3.3 Obtain the patient’s informed consent to proxy access, if appropriate
- 4.3.4 Verify evidence of a basis for access if the patient cannot consent
- 4.4 Redact sensitive information based on what is being shared
- 4.5 Audit decisions about proxy access
- 4.6 Communicate the outcome of a decision to grant or deny proxy access
- 5.0 The scope of proxy access
- 6.0 System audit of proxy access
- 7.0 Managing proxy access
- 7.1 Ongoing reviews of proxy access
- 7.2 Age and development based reviews of access
- 7.3 Time-bound reviews of access
- 7.4 Wider events that materially affect proxy access
- Appendix A: Ways to evidence a basis for access if the patient is not capable of providing informed consent
- Appendix B: Driver diagram articulating the strategic aims of this information standard