BOF: 8
One of your patients
suffers from a cardiac arrhythmia that gives rise to syncope. He continues to
drive despite you having made all reasonable efforts to explain to him that this
is unsafe. Your response should be
a) It
is the legal obligation of the patient to inform the authorities of his
disability; hence you are not obliged to take any further action
b) As
the patient has a right to confidentiality you may not take the matter any
further
c)
Inform the police
d) Inform
the next of kin or the driving authority
e) Inform the patient's solicitor
Answer:
d)
In such a situation your
duty to society overrides any right of an individual to confidentiality. The
ultimate responsibility is yours and you have to inform the next of kin or the
driver licensing authority.
