I agree that it is good practice to provide the individual member of staff with a copy of the letter written about them. Some occupational physicians dictate the letter to the employer while the individual is in the room, or discuss the general outline with them before the end of the consultation - Kate
>>> "Aziz, Bashyr" <[log in to unmask]> 24/10/05 16:02:21 >>>
David
The patient is entitled to a copy of your report (except in certain special circumstances), and this is provided for under the Data Protection Act 1998. However, as you provided a report to an OHS company (who would be the Data Controller), it is them she should ask for a copy of your report. Nonetheless, I think you'll probably find that the FOM Guidance on Ethics for OH Physicians and Diana Kloss would both suggest that generally it is good practice to provide the patient with a copy of a report about them.
Bashyr Aziz
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Occupational and environmental medicine and occupational health
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of David Williams
> Sent: 24 October 2005 15:41
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Access to reports
>
>
> I would like the group's advice on access to reports. I am a GP with
> Dip.OccMed and examine patients fo a local OHS company. A
> patient I examined
> recently is disputing the report from the OHS company to her
> employer and
> has asked me for a copy of my report to the OHS company.
> As far as I believe my Duty of Care is to the OHS company
> rather than the
> patient and I am not sure whether she is entitled to a copy
> of my report and
> if so under which regulations that comes.
>
> Dr David Williams
> Paignton
> Devon
>
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