THE DOCTOR'S OBLIGATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20905, 20 December 1929, Page 3

THE DOCTOR'S OBLIGATIONS.

TO IHE EMTOB.

Sib,—ln a leading article published on December 17 the following statement was ma.de: It will probably be agreed, however, even within the profession, that the coroner drew a sound distinction yesterday at an inquest on a girl whose death followed an illegal operation, between the case of a private practitioner and that of a doctor in a hospital, when he indicated the view that the considerations which restrain a private practitioner from dividemg information obtained by him from a patient do not apply equally to the members of a public hospital staff, at all events when the circumstances leave no room for doubt that a crime has been committed, Ifthis were admitted, it would mean a different code of honour for members of toe hospital staff as compared with a private practitioner. From the time of Hippocrates it has always been an axiom that a doctor is bound by bis professional obligations to his patient to Keep secret what he has learned in a professional capacity; indeed, the faith of the patient in these obligations may have resulted in a confession which would not otherwise have -been made. In “ The n ?K Ct T o£ Med . ical Practice,” published Lancet rn 1927, it is laid down that it is justifiable, although not a defi,to ur F e the patient to give evidence voluntarily against a person who has procured abortion for her; but without her free, intelligent consent, her medical attendant should not betray the confidence reposed in him in order to check criminal practices of the kind. tunes tfje patient in this instance whether she would care to make a statement. She admitted that an v &T r r t,on A ad been performed, but rl °K iaffie ’- nan ™° "as reapon- !{.« ,1! 1 r, r condl J>on. and stated that ■he did not know who had performed the operation. She definitely declined to dlsnpr f i statement. She was r ll, » and was in no condition that T P K O JS I,^IBn r o , Ba ' eXan J ' ination - 1 felt wWK«. k tnlfilled my duty: m asking ment h WK e w l nld c ? re t° make a statekA-* iT hen , * h ? refused, it would have been a breach of confidence to report the to the police. I desire to take full responsibility in the matter; if there be blame, it should fall on me and not on house surgeon, who acted under mv instructions. The patient died at midmght. Early the following mornffatr I J]|,^j d the facts before the coroner, who decide that an inquest should be held " “ HS ' d *«=

Dunedin, December 19. DIKT.