THE KITSON-PLAYFAIR CASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 10

THE KITSON-PLAYFAIR CASE.

THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS ASSOCIATION DECLARES ITSELF. There are signs of a healthy reaction in opinion among English physicians over tho verdict in tho Kitsou-Playfair case. At first there was a strong tendency in tho medical press and profession itself to protest against the decision of the Court and jury. This was partly owing to tho eminence and popularity of tho defendant and partly to the fact that there has undoubtedly been a lax tendency among English physicians in regard to tho obligation of professional secrecy. Tho British Aledieal Journal lias felt tho pressure of opinion within and without the profession, and this week it changes its ground quite materially. It now declares that professional knowledge must not bo revealed “ if revelation can possibly ho avoided.” This is very different from tho quasi defence of Dr Playfair, which it attempted a fortnight ago, and which excited general public indignation. Public opinion has also called forth a satisfactory declaration of principles from tho Medical Practitioners’ Association, whose Council has just adopted unanimously this resolution: — “To place the fact formally on record that since the days of Hippocrates it has been held among medical practitioners as a cardinal, indisputable principle of conduct that they should regard all information acquired by or confided to them concerning their patients as absolutely sacred and inviolable.”