Patients' right to privacy

doi:10.1136/bmj.b4509

Published 2 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4509
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4509

Letters

GMC’s guidance on confidentiality

Patients’ right to privacy

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

When it comes to being criticised in the media, the GeneralMedical Council acknowledges that doctors are in a difficultposition. We accept that there can be a public interest in doctorsresponding to press criticism—if criticism has undermined,or might seriously undermine, confidence in the individualdoctor, a health service, or the profession.

But the contention that patients forfeit their privacy rightswhen they criticise a doctor is unhelpful.¹

Doctors should seek legal advice about the redress availableto them, rather than engaging in public disputes with theirpatients through the pages of the press.

Public confidence in the profession could be seriously harmedby such behaviour, particularly if it involves breaches of confidentiality,which is central to the trust between all doctors and patients.

Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4509

Michael Keegan, policy adviser

¹ General Medical Council, London NW1 3JN

pressoffice@gmc-uk.org

Competing interests: None declared

Gilliat J. Muzzling doctors in the name of confidentiality [electronic response to Dyer C. Doctors get advice on criticism from the media.]. BMJ 2009;339:b4173 (12 October.)[Free Full Text]