SLMANEWS
August, 2012
Contd.from page 20
SLMA Ethics... Case No 4 - An issue of professional etiquette: Conflict between a Physician and an Administrator A consultant working in the hospital was admitted with a severe head ache and suspected dengue fever under a consultant physician “CP”. He was referred to a neurologist for an opinion by “CP”. A doctor involved in hospital administration visited the patient unknown to “CP”, informed the neurologist who had been called in consultation and prescribed medication. Neither “CP” nor the ward doctor had been informed by him of the treatment prescribed. “CP” complained about the incident alleging interference and breach of confidentiality.
Questions: Interference with patient care and Breach of confidentiality. The ethics committee sought a written explanation from the administrator; interviewed the patient; and perused the clinical records. The committee found that there had been an ongoing rift between “CP” and the medical administrator and hence the administrator had not attempted to inform the physician about the change of treatment. The administrator was not involved in any way with the clinical care of the patient. The GMC guidelines are
clear on the point that an administrator has the right to examine notes of a patient. If any notes of an administrative nature are made, this has to be entered on a sheet separate from the clinical notes. The committee ruled that there was no breach of confidentiality by the administrator perusing the patient’s clinical record. However, seeking to treat the patient without a request to do so by the patient’s physician was against medical etiquette. The administrator was informed about the findings of the ethics committee and requested to refrain from such behaviour in the future.
This article will be continued on the SLMANews September issue
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