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Originally posted by WillowIX:
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Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric:
Or to put it another way - I could overlook the doctor releasing private health information to the media regarding a celebrity...but if he put his personal interests above and before the treatment and comfort of his patient, then he should face the possibility of losing his license based on ethical violations.
I wish Attalus were still around. He could give us an inside perspective on exactly what penalties the doctor should face.
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I disagree with you here Cerek. A doctor is under no circumstances allowed to breach doctor-patient confidentiality to anyone. He could possibly have said "a 55 year old male" but that's all. Period! And revealing the age is border-line. Information to the media should be handled by a relative, or agent/lawyer, who has gotten his information directly from the patient.
Up here he would have gotten himself a reprimand, a suspension, and a hearing! If he is a first-time offender. The second time it's bye-bye. If everything stated in the article is true he will have his license cut immediately. And he should probably expect a call from his employer's legal advisers.
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I'm sorry, Willow, I didn't state that part of my post very clearly. I had said earlier that the Dr. had violated the patients confidentiality and deserved to be reprimanded and suspended for his actions. When I said that I could "overlook" him releasing this information, I was speaking of that offense in comparison to the completely unethical actions he took of trying to get George Harrision's autograph and also forcing him to listen to his kids impromptu concert.
The offense of breaching Harrison's confidentiality should (and DID) get him a censure and reprimand (from the State of New York, but not from his hospital). However, he was still allowed to keep his license. I was stating that the offense of his "circus atmosphere" actions should lead to the revocation of his license by the State of New York. A suspension is not acceptable for that level of unprofessionalism. He should lose his license and be barred from practicing medicine at all because of that.
Sorry for the confusion, because I certainly do not condone ANY of the actions taken by the doctor...and having had my OWN confidentiality breached by doctors at my hospital before, it is an offense I DO take seriously....but - on a personal level - I would still have been FAR more upset by the doctor's other actions than by him breaching my confidentiality.