Add 2 patients with the same phone number

[zenn345]

I am able to add 2 different patient with the same phone number.
First I did "add n/mary p/89125432 a/345 Serangoon Gardens" followed by "add n/Megan p/89125432 a/blk 987 dakota crescent". I think that phone number should be unique.

Hope this helps. Love the app by the way, there isn't really much fault :)

[soc-se-bot]

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Team's Response

Mental health issues are very common among kids, teenagers, who might be too young to own a phone. Also given that they have mental health issues, their parents might not trust them with a phone, they might not even have the freedom to come for sessions on their own, which means their parents or guardian will accompany them for visits.

As such, if multiple children in the family come for sessions often, their phone numbers will be recorded as the same parent’s phone number, so it is completely valid for multiple patients to have the same phone number.

Items for the Tester to Verify

❓ Issue response

Team chose [response.Rejected]

• I disagree

Reason for disagreement: Hi team, thank you for your insights regarding the allowance of duplicate phone numbers for patients, particularly in the context of minors sharing contact details with guardians. While I understand the rationale, I'd like to present some considerations that might warrant a re-examination of this design choice.

1. Importance of Confidentiality in Child and Adolescent Therapy: Confidentiality is a cornerstone of effective therapeutic relationships, especially for minors. It fosters trust and encourages honest communication. Research indicates that maintaining confidentiality can lead to long-term positive outcomes in mental health for young individuals. (you may refer to the links below)

2. Practical Implications of Shared Contact Information: Allowing multiple patients to share the same phone number could inadvertently compromise confidentiality. For instance, appointment reminders or sensitive information might be sent to a shared contact, risking unintended disclosures. This could deter minors from fully engaging in therapy, knowing their privacy isn't assured.

Alternative Approaches:

1. Multiple Contact Fields: Implement fields for both primary and secondary contacts, distinguishing between the patient's and guardian's information.

2. Consent Mechanisms: Introduce consent protocols where minors can specify preferred communication channels, ensuring their comfort and privacy.

While the current design accommodates scenarios where minors share contact details with guardians, it's crucial to ensure that such implementations don't inadvertently compromise the therapeutic process. By considering alternative approaches, we can uphold confidentiality standards while addressing practical needs.

Source:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379069557_A_Matter_of_Trust_Confidentiality_in_Therapeutic_Relationships_during_Psychological_and_Medical_Treatment_in_Children_and_Adolescents_with_Mental_Disorders

https://www.familymatterslawgroup.com/understanding-therapeutic-privilege-for-children-in-therapy-a-guide-from-family-matters-law-group-p-a

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❓ Issue severity

Team chose [severity.Low]
Originally [severity.High]

• I disagree

Reason for disagreement: Regarding the severity downgrade from High to Low, I’d like to propose we consider Medium instead.

While I understand the reasoning for shared phone numbers among minors, this issue introduces significant concerns regarding confidentiality and communication accuracy. In mental health settings, especially with young patients, it's crucial to ensure that private information is not inadvertently disclosed to another patient or guardian due to shared contact details.

This design may not break the system, but it can result in privacy issues, user confusion, and data management difficulties. These factors, in my opinion, elevate this beyond a Low-severity flaw.

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