MEDICAL ETIQUETTE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2331, 20 September 1921, Page 1

MEDICAL ETIQUETTE

PATIENTS’ CONFIDENCES,

SYDNEY DOCTOR’S STAND,

In the course of his evidence in a case at the Coroner’s Court, Sydney, Dr. Charles McDonald said that when the police were inquiring into a crime he refused to give information.

If a doctor were to save life, proceeded the witness, nothing should lm hidden from him by bis palicnl. If the patient suspected that the .doctor would divulge, except under compulsion Court of law, wlial he had been informed in confidence in the course of bis practice, the patient would not be frank with him. If a person committed murder and confided in him (witness) while attending in a professional capacity, he would not divulge what he knew, except in a Court of law. In his opinion it was protection to the public, and not to the criminal. The evidence was given in the inquiry concerning the death of Airs Lina Simon, whom the Coroner found had died at the Coast Hospital on Augusk3(lth from peritonitis, following a certain event, Who was the responsible party, the evidence did not enable him to say. Prior to Mrs Simon’s death, detectives called upon the doctor, but lie. would give no information.