At 18:51 on 13/8/96, Dr Laurence Miles wrote:
> What do GP-UKers think is the "right answer to this?
>
> You hear on the radio that an ex-patient of yours is wanted and on the
> run for murder. You know that you have very detailed computer records on
> him, up to the time that he left your list, which might be of assistance
> to the police.
>
> Do you ring the police and tell them his confidential past history?
>
> I'll post my answer in a day or two....
In principle it's not allowed to give information obtained in the privacy
of the surgery.
Only if there is a serious conflict of interests it is allowed to breach
the implicit deal with the patient and his rights.
Such a conflict could be the knowledge of a real threat of a new murder.
The right of privacy which the patient and the physician should consider of
very high importance can not be breached easily.
Gerard Freriks,huisarts, MD
C. Sterrenburgstr 54
3151JG Hoek van Holland
the Netherlands (31) 174-384296/ Fax: -386249
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