Doctor’s silence defended
PA Auckland The Medical Association has defended a Carrington Hospital doctor who refused to tell the police which patient had handed in a cigarette laced with deadly P.C.P. (Angel Dust).
The president of the Auckland division of the association, Dr Barney Feltham, said that the patient could have grounds to sue the doctor for breach of confidence if the information was given. “The doctors at Carrington have to maintain their credibility with all their contacts and people who have problems. If they are seen readily to hand over
information, they will lose that,” said Dr Feltham. “It would certainly put in jeopardy the relationship between the doctors and their patients at the hospital.”
Dr Feltham said that the doctor concerned was trying to persuade the patient who had the cigarette to cooperate with the police. But Dr Feltham agreed that doctors would “not think twice” about informing the police of any “horrendous” crimes that a patient had confessed to. ■ “In day-to-day things, however, patient confidentiality has to be preserved.”
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Press, 10 October 1983, Page 8
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172Doctor’s silence defended Press, 10 October 1983, Page 8
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