MEDICAL SECRECY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 December 1922, Page 8

MEDICAL SECRECY

In Lord Birkenhead's new bonk, ! “Points of View,” the old subject 01 | ' dbonld a Doctor Tell’’ is discussed, j Lord Birkcnhehd puts a series ot I ■searching questions to show, not only ; that common sense and good citizenship are sometimes opposed' to a doctor’s secrecy, but that the claim to secrecy is in itself by no means clear in certain instances. lie regards the ilncl rim? of medical secrecy under every oimimsliince as a, retrograde movement. "The whole tendency of our law for many years lias been in the direction of opening the months of those who cun assist the course of justice, and not of closing them; in reducing those classes whose testimony, for whatever reason, cannot be accepted in a Court, of Law rather than in increasing them.> ami iit this, ns in the other matters, breaking down Sanders of privilege for each of which perhaps before it fell a sturdy '.argument might be adduced.” The- publication of the late Led views has naturally brought, about Further discussion. Lieut.-Col. Nathan. Raw. AI.D., president of ihe Tuberculosis Society of Great Britain, said, in (he course of an interview: "I , agree, that a doctor should tell in a Court of Justice where, tinder the direction of a judge, proper questions ! arc put to him which it is necessary for the doctor to answer in order that tbo ends of justice may not lie defeated. Apart from (his the relation? between the doctor and patient should lie kept as secret as possible. It is, for instance, no part of a doctor’s business to inform the police of a case of attempted suicide where he is called upon to attend the patient. It would be infringing the sanctitv <->r relations between diictor and patient. Even if a doctor overheard a. patient in delirium confess to murder. I hold it would he a breach of etiquette and professional secrecy for him to inform the police unless another person were accused of the crime. “I _ have patients," said another prominent medical man, “who, I believe, could never have come to rue if they thought I would tell their friends .about I heir diseases as Lord, Birkenhead wards ran lo do. They would go untreated and be a danger to their families and flic community, as well as mining their own health/ In New Zen-’ land i, is provided that all communications made to a physician or surgeon in hi? professional character by any of tns patients shall bo privileged, and shall not: he admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings except will 1 , the express consent of the person who made the communication. Abiny Stales in the United States have passed Statutes securing professional privilege to the doctors and over-riding the ruL at common law. French doctors claim the same privilege as the priests.” The- secretary of the Royal College ot. Physicians said that the report of the college published some years ago still holds good. Tin’s relates to case;; of abortion, and it state? that, there is a moral obligatipn-on every medical practitioner to respect the confidence of h’s patient.