fay, u were not discriminated against. i used to have to see these old 
ladies fallen out of bed at night, but the sister and nurse(s) used to come 
to my room to wake me roughly.  But that too is another story not suitable 
for here!

>From: Fay Wilson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: GP-UK <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: ethical
>Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 22:52:55 +0100
>
>Richard
>I expect your ethical duty lies in informing the authorities if her records 
>contain evidence she is a serial killer. All the registrable professions 
>are asking for these forms and as the GP you are quite likely the only 
>person with the information. You should stick to factual information and 
>not offer any opinions (or you will risk the GMC if it is adverse!). Copies 
>of the records should be sufficient.
>
>There are ways of declining to do things if you don't want to, or charging 
>for work you do, which are less, or more likely to get you into 
>difficulties. Why not just get on with it and provide copies in line with 
>the data protection act since the patient has requested them? You will 
>spend more than £150 of time and priceless hours of indigestion if you get 
>arsy with the patients. It's better to have a painless system of compliance 
>- it's better to be a fence than a brick wall when a really high wind blows 
>up; it just passes through without damaging you. Of course I can see there 
>are reasons why you will want to feel in control of events rather than the 
>other way around but sometimes it's easier to just go with the flow.
>
>I learned this as a PRHO with a gang of nurses on night duty constantly 
>calling me out at night to check old ladies supposedly fallen out of bed on 
>a site where it was 1/4 mile from the mess to the ward. Best thing to do 
>was not get angry but to learn to do it without waking up. Funnily enough, 
>it only happened to the female PRHOs. But that's another story.
>
>Fay
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>   From: Richard Johnson
>   To: [log in to unmask]
>   Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 10:09 PM
>   Subject: ethical
>
>
>   Hi
>
>   Can I have your advice please.
>
>   I have been approached by yet another innocent sucker who wants to join 
>the NHS, in this case as a physio
>
>   For several years we have not completed any forms on people like this as
>   1) How can we possible certify that they are fit to work and not likely 
>to kill patients. The next GP who signs through the next Beverly Allott, 
>while be publically hung out to dry in the name of NHS openess and teflon 
>coated politicians.
>   2) I really don't have time.
>
>   We have however offered the patients a copy of their notes £50 (for 3rd 
>party use, access not medical notes act does not apply). No problem so far.
>
>   Last week had another request, issued standard letter. Patient rang GMC 
>who said I had to do it.
>
>   Rang MDU who said no legal duty, but I have an ethical duty.
>
>   Can some one explain to me why? I really don't get it.
>
>   This will take me 30 minutes. My normal charge is 140 UKP/hour so should 
>be £70
>
>   But she has pissed me off, and I do not have time to do it at work so we 
>are talking about my leasure time. If I spend time writing reports, I need 
>more housekeeper and cleaner input. Plus why the hell should I stay in 
>writing a NHS report rather than going out dancing etc, so £150 UKP paid up 
>front. I am fed up of chasing bad depts.
>
>   I expect various sorts of trouble, but could someone explain why 
>ethically the GMC thinks I must do this, rather than let her give the 
>hospital her medical notes and let them make up their own minds.
>
>   I also have a proposed disclaimer to put on the end of the report which 
>I will drift past the list in due course
>
>
>   Richard J
>
>
>   
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