To opt in or opt out of electronic patient records?: Electronic patient record is incompatible with confidentiality

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7559.146-b

BMJ 2006;333:146-147 (15 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7559.146-b

Letter

To opt in or opt out of electronic patient records?

Electronic patient record is incompatible with confidentiality

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—From the website of the General Medical Councilon the duties of registered doctors:

Doctors hold information about patients which is private andsensitive. This information must not be given to others unlessthe patient consents or you can justify the disclosure.
Patientshave a right to expect that information about them will be heldin confidence by their doctors. Confidentiality is central totrust between doctors and patients. Without assurances aboutconfidentiality, patients may be reluctant to give doctors theinformation they need in order to provide good care.
Many improperdisclosures are unintentional. You should not discuss patientswhere you can be overheard or leave patients' records, eitheron paper or on screen, where they can be seen by other patients,unauthorised health care staff or the public. You should takeall reasonable steps to ensure that your consultations withpatients are private.

The electronic patient . . . [Full text of this article]

Michael Foley, consultant anaesthetist

James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW mf.home@virgin.net