Confidentiality is a right. The GDPCO respects the confidentiality of its participants and it expects participants to respect each others' confidentiality. The use of surnames is avoided whenever possible. Periodic reminders are made to ensure that participants remember to guard each others' privacy. Participants are asked not to discuss group members with people not associated with the program. They are asked not to acknowledge each other in public unless they have the other party's express permission to do so.