You think Nitroprusside will work!
I'm sorry but I disagree with informing the Police without her consent. The
woman has just had her privacy and autonomy violated by one man and you have
the arrogance and audacity to think you have the right to do it a second
time?
You MUST let her decide whether she wants to face humiliation of a cross
examination in Court, and you have NO right to initiate the pressures that
will be applied by the Police if she does not want to press charges.
She has to make the right decision and she needs the handling that persuades
people to make painful decisions all professional people have to use. That
she will need time to make that decision, we are all, thank God, in
agreement over
Vic Calland
(I would have preferred an oral beta blocker to a Nitroprusside infusion..)
-----Original Message-----
From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Odum
Sent: 19 June 2005 09:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Rape & confidentiality & ED vs GP
You're a very sensible doc, Jel!
Seriously though - if we leave Vic on the Nitroprusside infusion for a few
days - as I understand the GMC guidelines we have a duty to report violent
crime if we feel there is a risk to the public.
Just after yesterday's posts I was talking to a barrister about this, and
her reply was very interesting. Apparently a senior judge has recently
incensed the Bar by stating that rape is not a violent crime. Maybe an
altered guideline is in the offing to specifically cover such offences.
However the "cry for help" theme is what my barrister friend seized on. The
Asian communuity see us as responsible professionals (if only they could see
this list sometimes!) and this lady could easily have been asking us to call
the police for her, even if she didn't say so in so many words. Having had
my conversation with my friend, I have to backtrack now and say that I very
likely WOULD call the police in future if this kind of case arises. Maybe
that is because I now feel on firmer legal ground, but I will still be
cautious.
Still entails spending 2-3 hours with the patient though. Don't have a
problem with that. Just the state of the ED when I get back out on the shop
floor, as Peter was saying earlier.
Simon
-----Original Message-----
From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Peter Cutting
Sent: 17 June 2005 08:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Rape & confidentiality & ED vs GP
Jel,
That fence must catch you in a very sensitive area from time to time though?
Peter
>>> [log in to unmask] 08:36:12 17/06/2005 >>>
Peter Cutting wrote:
> Thanks for all your thoughts.. I was particularly impressed by the GP vs
ED side spat.. always good for a giggle..
See me, my insurance category is GP with Emerg - because I work as both
an emerg doc and a GP - so I can choose to stand on whatever side of
whichever argument whenever I choose :) :)
(fortunately, no longer in the UK though)
Jel
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