GPs warned about disclosing unrelated medical conditions
By Neil Durham, 29 October 2009
GPs must be wary of the potential pitfall of disclosing unrelated medical conditions when providing patient referrals, according to the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS).
GPs should exercise care in disclosing past history.
The issue was highlighted in a recent call to the UK-wide MDDUS advice line when a patient had attended a member's practice seeking a referral for elective surgery.
The GP wrote the letter and forwarded medical details to the specialist but disclosed a history of a sensitive and unrelated medical condition, causing the patient to complain.
Dr Gail Gilmartin, a senior medico-legal adviser at the MDDUS, said: ‘In providing patient referrals doctors should include personal information relevant to the medical condition being treated and exercise care in disclosing past history.
‘Be aware that inadvertent inclusion of personal details is a greater risk today with most patient information now being held in easily transmissible electronic form. Particular attention should be paid to information the patient is likely to object to being disclosed.'
Further Reading
Related links
Additional Information
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Full time GP partner - Isle of Man Laxey and Village Walk Health Centres Competitive, Isle of Man
- Salaried GP Dr K.T. Tattum FRCGP Competitive, Stockton Brook, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
- General Practitioner x 2 for MOD, RAF Leuchars, Fife MMP Competitive hourly rates offered, East Coast of Scotland
- General Practitioner for Gamecock Barracks, Nuneaton MMP Competitive hourly rates, West Midlands
- GP for MOD, RAF Waddington, Lincs MMP Competitive hourly rates offered, Lincoln
- Locum GP for central east London Surgey HealthCare&Locum Recruitment Ltd Negotiable, Central london
Most read
- NHS reforms: Interactive Health Bill timeline
- Exclusive: 'Stop the mudslinging on pensions' says BMA chairman
- Royal colleges step up Health Bill opposition
- Male GPs more likely to experience burnout than female colleagues
- GPC warns of 'target culture' as GP commissioning framework revealed
- Vaccinate teenagers against meningitis, say DH advisers
Most commented
MIMS Drug Search
Possible searches include drugs (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases and more.
