Apologies for re-post, but I'm advised that the attachment didn't come across the first time. Now appended at the end of the message.
Mike Hallworth
-------------Forwarded Message-----------------
From: Mike Hallworth,
To: mailbase, INTERNET:[log in to unmask]
Date: 19/04/2001 12:10
RE: Legislative Threat to Medical Confidentiality
To: UK ACB members:
I have received this from Fleur Fisher (Chair, BMA Foundation for AIDS). Please read and respond if you feel appropriate.
Mike Hallworth
ACB Chairman
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "fleurfisher" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Legislative Threat to Medical Confidentiality
Date sent: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 11:30:38 +0100
Please would you forward this survey to an officer of the Aasociation
of Clinical Scientists? Hopefully to forward it to all the members of
your Council and all your Committee members, and even consider putting
it on your web-site
The attachment is self-explanatory : we need evidence urgently as to
how health professionals view medical confidentiality , now under
imminent threat from clause 68 of the Health and Social Care Bill now
going through Parliament.
While there was wide consultation on the NHS Plan, which this Bill is
intended to implement, there was NO consultation at all on this
clause, which has the potential to alter radically the relationship of
trust between health professional and patient.
Ideally we need as many responses as possible by breakfast time on
Saturday!
Thanks for reading and responding promptly to this email-
Sincerely,
Dr Fleur Fisher
My contact nos are 0207 720 7572, (work)
07932 725157 (mobile)
020 8830 1035 (home)
attachment:
>URGENT : PRIVACY SURVEY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
THIS AFFECTS YOU- AS A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL (AND AS A PATIENT )
The Health and Social Care Bill, due to reach its report stage in the House of Lord on April 24, contains a clause (currently 68) which, if and when passed, will bring a forcible end to patient confidentiality and privacy in the UK.
This grants the Secretary of state legal powers to effectively commandeer all personal medical information, granting the Government untrammelled, unobserved, access to all our medical records -
without consent, notification or any right to opt out. Doctors are to be compelled to provide information regardless of previous expectation and agreements that it would be kept confidential on pain of criminal prosecution and a £5000 fine in each instance.
The effect on the future practice of medicine here can only be imagined but it is likely that this will include patients deferring or declining treatment which involves the provision of samples from which DNA may be
extracted - including blood donations. Although the clause applies to paper as well as electronic records it is likely
that NHS reaction to such a law would deter many doctor and health professionals from participating in trials and implementation towards EPR (electronic patient records) which forms a key part of the survival strategy for the NHS.
This legislation is being vigorously opposed. Among those keenly concerned are Fleur Fisher, Chair, BMA Foundation for AIDS, & Co-Chair POPAN, Ross Anderson, Cambridge University Computer Laboratory, Caspar Bowden, Director, Foundation for Information Policy Research,
Barry James, Chair, New NHS Intranet & Internet Conference. In order to gauge and quantify the depth of opposition we are now launching an online survey, and we need your help. PLEASE go to http://www.nhspeople.net/impact/survey.htm
to express your opinion, right now if possible (time is of the essence).
For more information , please visit the web-site :
www.gorjuss.com/medicalprivacy<
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