Should a Doctor Tell.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1923, Page 4

Should a Doctor Tell.

MOVE TO SETTLE OLD CONTROVERSY. LONDON, Nov 1. Lord Birkenhead, the ex-Lord Clianrelloi. lias, by publishing his meinoiandmn on medical secrecy, reopened the controversy on “Should a doctor tell;'" lie is opposed to the view that doctors are bound in all circumstances to keep secret facts they learn aboutpatients in their medical capacity. I),- Cox. Secretary of die British Medical \ssociation. sni.l yesterday that there are undoubtedly eases in which a doctor should give information to a court of law. “What these cases are f am n.d at the moment prepared to discuss,” he said. ‘Mv association wants to discuss the matter with the Law Officers of the Crown so that it shall he made clear in which cases judges can insist upon medical men giving evidence” \ London doctor, an official of the British Medical Association discussing the question, said: “Tf a- patient once thinks flint what ho tells us is liable to be repeated to anyone else, we shall never get the truth, and in many illnesses and diseases it is absolutely necessary that the medical man should know the whole history of the case. Take venereal disease, for instance. History full and complete is very necessary for it to be treated properly. AIDING ABORTIONISTS. “Take another"point. As a result of a domestic quarrel a man or his wife attempt suicide and a- doctor is called in. Is be to report the ease to the police as lie should do, remembering always that he is laying himself open to a charge of slander? The whole question reduces itself to this: There should be absolute secrecy except where there is a clear and flagrant case of law-breaking, such as an injured burglar coming for assistance. T do not think that a doctor who is called in to attend a woman and finds that she is suffering from the effects of an illegal operation should give information to the police. Tf doctors fail to report patients suffering from the cfFeets of illegal operations.” said a coroner, “then abortionists will lie able to laugh at the police.” A DIVORCE PROBLEM. “Supposing.” writes a medical correspondent, “that in a divorce ease a woman confessed to her lawyer that she had committed adultery now charged against her. should the lawyer tell the husband’s side? Or suppose in defending any person charged with crime lie

incidentally obtained evidence which would assst the prosecution, should he tell ? “Talking to me on the question of syphilis, Dr Hugh AYansey Bavly, blunder and lion, secretary of the Soe.eiy for the Prevention of Venereal Disease said: ‘lt is most important that the patient should be able to look upon his doctor as a father confessor. Ti a man felt that the law would compel the doctor to give him away he would withhold a great deal of information necessary for the correct diagnosis ot his case. Women patients are in especial dread of being found out.’ ”