MPS Advises Doctors About Releasing Patient Information To The Police, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 08 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Increasing numbers of members are calling MPS unsure about what to do when the police come knocking demanding information about their patients.

The police have been approaching hospital doctors and GPs to obtain patient information where they suspect that the patient has committed a serious crime.

Medicolegal Adviser Pallavi Bradshaw, said: "In the first instance consent from the patient should be sought. However, if consent is denied or it is not reasonable to gain consent, the doctor must weigh the duty of confidentiality to their patient against a risk posed to society.

"It is the responsibility of the police to provide written consent from the patient and, in situations where they have not approached the patient for their consent, they must provide justification as to why this has not happened."

MPS advises the following:

- Always remember that you have a duty of confidentiality to your patients

- Always request that the police obtain written consent from the patient, before releasing medical information or health records

- It will only be in rare circumstances that medical information should be released to the police, such as, when a serious crime has been committed, a third party is at risk, or where public interest outweighs individual private interest

- If you have any concerns about disclosing information you should contact MPS.

Medical Protection Society