Why won't you tell me what is wrong with my relative. Surely I have a right to know?
Doctors are bound by strict confidentiality rules which prevent them disclosing any sensitive medical information to another person, unless that person is another health professional who will be involved in the care of the patient. That means, unless we have consent from the patient themselves, we cannot discuss any confidential details with a relative or other person. This even extends to some details about young people's medical records under the age of 18, if it is deemed the young person has the capacity to consent to medical treatment and does not want us to disclose this information. Very occasionally, if we suspect a serious crime has been committed or there is a risk that a patient is likely to put another person at risk of serious harm through their illness, we are duty bound to break confidentiality to prevent further harm occurring.
I'm not 18 yet. Will you tell my parents/teachers if I start a medication?
No. Young people have the right to the same access to confidential medical treatment as legal adults, and we would respect your wishes if you did want them to know. The rules regarding young people making a decision about their health are complex. If we feel you have the maturity to make an informed decision about your treatment and can understand the information we are telling you, assuming it is clinically safe to do so, we would follow your wishes and treat you without informing anyone else. We would always recommend talking to your parent (it is never as bad as you might think!) about any health issue you have, and would encourage you to do so, but this is not an absolute requirement if you are adamant you do not want to.
Can I e-mail you with medical questions?
This is not possible for a number of reasons. First, we cannot be certain that information sent in this manner is secure, and we may risk leaking medical information to other people. Second, we cannot guarantee we would be able to safely make an assessment from an email; normally we need to ask you questions, either face-to-face, or on the telephone, to assess what problem you may be having and give the most appropriate treatment.
Why does the doctor want another member of staff present on occasions?
We understand that some examinations can be embarrassing, particularly intimate examinations performed by a doctor of the opposite sex. You may feel more comfortable with another person present (eg a nurse, or receptionist), and we will arrange this for you if you request this. However, sadly, some doctors in the UK have been falsely accused of assault in the past when performing intimate examinations, and therefore the doctor may request a "chaperone" (another member of staff, usually a practice nurse or receptionist) be present for their own protection. This is no reflection on you; the doctor is simply ensuring they follow recommended procedures, particularly when undertaking breast, genital, or rectal examinations on the opposite sex. If the doctor requests a chaperone and you insist you will not have one present, they may request you see another doctor (e.g. one of the same sex) for the examination unless there is a clear urgent need to undertake action during the consultation.
