Filler

The importance of patient confidentiality

As a third year medical student just starting out in clinical medicine, the importance of patient confidentiality has often been emphasised to me. Unfortunately, until now, it is something that I have not considered in detail. I am probably guilty of the odd Friday night pub conversation: "You won't believe what I saw today." I am sure many of my fellow colleagues would be guilty of the same.

But while I was completing my special study module on domestic violence my eyes were opened. My tutor asked me to contact several victims of violent domestic abuse who had been treated in the accident and emergency department. I obtained telephone numbers from patient records. Some individuals, however, had omitted to leave their number. I contacted directory inquiries only to discover that they were not listed. This suggested that these people had no wish to be contacted.

At my tutor's request, I contacted the practices where the victims were patients. The receptionists at all six practices freely gave out the numbers I required without asking for any proof of identity. I was shocked at how easily I could obtain information that was obviously not meant for public knowledge. It was more worrying as the cases involved domestic violence.

Some of the victims may have been withholding telephone numbers to try to create a barrier between themselves and their violent ex-partners. Would they be happy to know that they were so easily accessible? The receptionists concerned had no proof that they were speaking to a medical student with no harmful intentions. Perhaps we should all give a little more thought to patient confidentiality.

Lucy Mansfield, third year medical student. 

St George's Hospital Medical School

Reprinted from studentBMJ November 2000

We welcome articles of up to 600 words on topics such as A memorable patient, A paper that changed my practice, My most unfortunate mistake, or any other piece conveying instruction, pathos, or humour. If possible the article should be supplied on a disk. Permission is needed from the patient or a relative if an identifiable patient is referred to.