Answers

1. A 16-year-old boy is admitted to the Emergency Department with abdominal stab wounds. Should the police be informed?

A. Yes, if it appears to be gang-related crime.

B. Yes, you should inform the police quickly whenever a person arrives with a gunshot wound or an injury from an attack with a knife, blade or other sharp instrument (unless accidental, or a result of self-harm).

C. No, you should just record your concerns in the patient’s notes.

D. No, this would be breaking patient confidentiality.

2. The police ask you for the medical records of a two-year-old patient, whom they suspect has been physically abused. Can you share the records without parental consent?

A. No, let them get a court order.

B. Yes. Usually it would be advisable to seek a parent’s consent prior to disclosing a child’s medical records; however, if asking them is likely to prejudice a police investigation, you will need to consider whether you can explain and justify a disclosure without consent.

C. Yes, if the request comes from a senior police officer.

D. Yes.

3. A call centre HR manager comes to see you. She has brought in DSS (Med 3) certificates for one of her employees, a patient of yours. She thinks the dates have been altered. What should you do?

A. Refuse to see her, or confirm that he is a patient.

B. You can confirm only that he is a patient.

C. You can confirm that the sick notes are not in their original state.

D. You can confirm that they are forgeries and remove the patient from your list.

4. One of your patients refuses to accept that his worsening epilepsy prevents him from driving safely. You have previously made every effort to persuade him to stop driving and contact the DVLA – can you now tell them directly?

A. No, it’s a matter for the patient and the DVLA.

B. Yes, but only if he drives vehicles in Category C (lorries of 3500kg) and above.

C. Yes, you should tell him that you have no alternative but to inform the DVLA.

D. No, this is a matter for the police.

Answers

1. A 16-year-old boy is admitted to the Emergency Department with abdominal stab wounds. Should the police be informed?

2. The police ask you for the medical records of a two-year-old patient, whom they suspect has been physically abused. Can you share the records without parental consent?

3. A call centre HR manager comes to see you. She has brought in DSS (Med 3) certificates for one of her employees, a patient of yours. She thinks the dates have been altered. What should you do?

4. One of your patients refuses to accept that his worsening epilepsy prevents him from driving safely. You have previously made every effort to persuade him to stop driving and contact the DVLA – can you now tell them directly?

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