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LETTERS: Michael Foley To opt in or opt out of electronic patient records?: Electronic patient record is incompatible with confidentiality BMJ 2006; 333: 146-b-147-b [Full text]

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GMC Guidance on Confidentiality

Jane M O'Brien   (25 July 2006)

GMC Guidance on Confidentiality 25 July 2006
Jane M O'Brien, Head of Standards & Ethics, GMC 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN Send response to journal: Re: GMC Guidance on Confidentiality	Michael Foley quotes from our guidance on confidentiality in expressing his view that patients should be asked to ‘opt in’ to the new NHS Care Record. This helpfully draws attention to the importance we place on confidentiality as a key to relationships of trust between doctors and patients. However, we do not share his conclusion that to comply with our guidance ‘explicit consent is required to enter [patients’] data into a national computer system’. The means of storing information – whether on paper or electronically – does not itself raise questions of confidentiality. It is the robustness of the security systems which protect records from improper access, and the rigour with which system users follow confidentiality policies and procedures, which determine whether patient’s right to confidentiality is protected. Michael Foley points out some of the ways in which confidentiality and security policies are currently breached. So, alongside the development of new systems, consideration needs to be given to minimising disclosures made by accident, or by careless application of security policies. All healthcare professionals have an important part to play in ensuring patients’ confidentiality, however the information is recorded. Competing interests: I am Head of Standards and Ethics at the GMC