SHOCKING QUERY.”

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 300, 1 December 1936, Page 8

SHOCKING QUERY.”

DOCTOR'S DUTY TO KEEP SECRET. A MATTER OF THE UTMOST PRIVACY. A barrister as Leith Assizes (England), who put a question to a doctor regarding medical attendance on a man was told by Air Justice Charles that he had been guilty of a very shocking thing. "You ought not to have asked this question,” said the judge. He do scribed the matter of “one of tl\ most sacred confidences between doctor and his patient." The widow of Daniel Dalton souglil to recover £lBO, said io be the balance of a loan of £2OO to her late husband to Dr. James M. O'Donnell. Dr. O’Donnell denied that he had ever borrowed from Dalton. His counsel, Dr. E. G. Chappell, then asked about his medical attendance on Dalton, and the doctor said that Dalton had consulted him on a particular subject. Mr Justice Charles (to Dr. O'Donnell) : I should have thought that this was a matter of the utmost privacy—the most sacred privacy. What de you mean by revealing what- ought tc be a matter of the most sacred confidence between you and youi patient? Dr. O’Donnell: I to’’. the solicitoi and counsel that I did not desire these matters should be revealed. The Judge (to Dr. Chappell): Il this doctor told you that he desired that these matters should not be brought out, and that he desired to claim privilege as a decent and respectable doctor should, how Is It that you have asked these questions, which completely break down the privilege? Dr. Chappell: If there Is any fault It Is entirely mine. The Judge: Well, all I can say is that it is a very shocking thing for any counsel to have to admit. I saj It deliberately. You ought to be ashamed to admit it. Dr. Chappe”: Very well, my lord.