VENEREAL DISEASE.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15353, 29 September 1923, Page 8

VENEREAL DISEASE.

TREATMENT OF PATIENTS. SHOULD A DOCTOR TELL? By Telegraph.—Press Association. DUNEDIN, Friday. At a meeting of the Hospital Board Dr. Falconer, medical superintendent, wrote: “There ts a doubt in the minds of members of the staff in regard to the question of privilege attaching to communications made by a patient to a physician or surgeon in his professional capacity. In my evidence before the 1 Venereal Diseases Committee I recommend absolute security for the patients in the court, and that evidence of venereal disease cannot be obtained from patients’ own private medical attendant, the medical officer at the V.D. clinic, or from records for the purpose of any civil action pending against the patient, except for the purpose of the enforcement of the Health Act itself. Recently a plea for privilege in regard to a patient's condition was made by a member of the honorary staff of the hospital in civil court proceedings', and such privilege was disallowed by the judge. If a similar judgment wore given in regard lo the records at the venereal diseases clinic at Dunedin Hospital our boasted secrecy as part of the campaign against the disease would be without legal basis. Apart from the merits of the question that any such private privilege should exist it is obvious that it is wTOng that we should invite patients to come to the clinic under the false pretence of an assurance of secrecy." It was resolved to ask the department to have the law amended.