Speaking to GP behind someone's back

xalot

Hope I'm posting in the right place, if not feel free to move.

My dad is very obviously not well at the moment, he's very old fashioned -the type who just will not go to a doctor, dentist etc. Anyway, we live in different counties and the last time I saw him I was shocked at how much he had deteriorated and made him promise to see the doctor. I hounded him until he went. He said he had bloods etc. taken and everything came back ok.

My parents are separated and I'm an only child so there wasn't really anyone else I could get to verify this but my aunt called yesterday to say she doesn't think he's well and I'm beginning to wonder if he saw the GP at all.

Am I able to call the GP and ask him what is going on? The GP is our family doctor and would know me from treating me as a child but I haven't seen him in a good 15 years.

Just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation?

Gael23

No I don't think a GP would do that.
What I suggest you do is go with him the next time and maybe from then on you and his GP can work together once they know the situation

L1011

Its extremely unlikely a GP will tell you anything due to patient confidentially and also the law in relation to data protection. At absolute most you might get a yes/no answer for if he actually went but I wouldn't even expect that.

sam34

Op, the doctor is unlikely to give you much information without your father's knowledge and consent, but you can certainly tell them your concerns.

Gael23

MYOB wrote: »

Its extremely unlikely a GP will tell you anything due to patient confidentially and also the law in relation to data protection. At absolute most you might get a yes/no answer for if he actually went but I wouldn't even expect that.

Whats the difference between confidentiality and data protection in terms of the doctor patient relationship?

connected1

MYOB wrote: »

Its extremely unlikely a GP will tell you anything due to patient confidentially and also the law in relation to data protection. At absolute most you might get a yes/no answer for if he actually went but I wouldn't even expect that.

This may be off topic but my GP referred me to hospital for tests. I never said anything to my mam as I didn't want her to worry, but she went to the docs herself a week or so later and the doc asked her how I got on at the hospital. Of course my mam didn't know anything about it and I was really annoyed. But it made me think that maybe some doctors don't think much about patient confidentiality.
Hope your dad's Ok OP

Bosley1421

I was sick for a long time as a teenager, and didn't tell my parents everything about it.

I attended my GP regularly, followed treatment, was very mature etc. I discovered later that she had been informing my mam of everything at her own doctors appointments, which I was devastated by. I don't know if it had anything to do with my age at the time but she never told me that she would be informing my parents during any of our conversations.
I thought it was a total breach of trust, maybe even a breach of medical ethics.

Suffice to say, I have a new GP now.

So yes connected1, maybe confidentiality is not as common as you'd think, especially if it's your family's GP too.

Sorry, didn't mean to derail either.

connected1

So judging by my and Bosleys experience the GP may well share info with family, despite medical ethics. But even if you don't get any information, i think it's well worth ringing and raising the doctors awareness about the family's concerns

xalot

Thanks for all the feedback, it's a tricky one. I dont want to invade my dad's privacy and think that doctor patient confidentiality is very important but I do want to ensure he is seeking help (and taking any medication prescribed!)

I think I might follow Ryanf1's advice and take him myself to the GP's office.

Appreciate the advice.

Gael23

connected1 wrote: »

So judging by my and Bosleys experience the GP may well share info with family, despite medical ethics. But even if you don't get any information, i think it's well worth ringing and raising the doctors awareness about the family's concerns

I think that in General Practice, the Doctor will do whatever is in the best interests of their patient. If he/she makes a judgement that it is best for the patient to have a family member or carer involved then thats likely to happen

Vorsprung

The medical council sets out circumstances in its ethics guide when it is appropriate to break patient confidentiality, I'll paraphrase a couple of points:

1) You shouldn't disclose information to a patient's relatives without consent unless withholding information puts the patient at risk of serious harm

2) You can break confidentiality if there's an infectious disease risk (say if someone has a new diagnosis of HIV but they tell you they're not going to inform their partner), or if there's a judicial or parliamentary order.

3) If it's in the public interest

4) You have to justify fairly well any decision for breaking confidentiality and you should ideally inform the patient when doing so.

JuliusCaesar

I think there might be exceptions to confidentiality when the client is underage.

connected1

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

I think there might be exceptions to confidentiality when the client is underage.

I'm in my 40, and my experience is very recent

TimeToShine

xalot wrote: »

My parents are separated and I'm an only child so there wasn't really anyone else I could get to verify this but my aunt called yesterday to say she doesn't think he's well and I'm beginning to wonder if he saw the GP at all.

This is what matters. You can call and ask has your father been seeing him. If the answer is yes, there is no more information to be obtained or further action you can take.

Dubwat

Could the OP talk to his father's GP and explain his concerns? Then perhaps the GP could post a pseudo-fake/marketing letter to the father saying, 'Hey, it's recommended that you see your doctor annually. We haven't seen you for awhile. Why not drop in a visit and checkup'?

Would that be allowed?



(off-topic)
Maybe GP's generally should send out a letter/email to all their 'missing' patients every couple of years & encourage them to get a check-up?

3rdDegree

Dubwat wrote: »

Could the OP talk to his father's GP and explain his concerns? Then perhaps the GP could post a pseudo-fake/marketing letter to the father saying, 'Hey, it's recommended that you see your doctor annually. We haven't seen you for awhile. Why not drop in a visit and checkup'?

Would that be allowed?



(off-topic)
Maybe GP's generally should send out a letter/email to all their 'missing' patients every couple of years & encourage them to get a check-up?

I just got one of those marketing things for my "regular eye test". I'll ignore it, just like I'm sure the op's father would ignore it - especially if he is someone who is normally reluctant to go to the doctor.

I think all the op can do is get a yes or no from the gp I relation to the father visiting, then talk to their father.

L1011

ryanf1 wrote: »

Whats the difference between confidentiality and data protection in terms of the doctor patient relationship?

One is medical ethics, one is law. Potential consequences could be quite serious for both due to the Medical Council though

sam34

TimeToShine wrote: »

This is what matters. You can call and ask has your father been seeing him. If the answer is yes, there is no more information to be obtained or further action you can take.

Strictly speaking, even that information shouldn't be given out without consent.

Bosley1421

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

I think there might be exceptions to confidentiality when the client is underage.

What would these be please? If the patient is not in immediate danger or anything.

Xeyn

Bosley1421 wrote: »

What would these be please? If the patient is not in immediate danger or anything.

Adolescents cannot consent to treatment (surgery at 16 and cannot refuse medical treatment till 18)
Therefore the person consenting has a right to know pertinent details of the medical history if the child regardless if the child is in immediate danger or not. There are but a few exceptions to this. However it does leave it up to the doctor himself to release what he seems necessary and withold that which is deemed unnecessary.
So yes confidentiality does differ between adults and paediatrics.

Bosley1421

Xeyn wrote: »

Adolescents cannot consent to treatment (surgery at 16 and cannot refuse medical treatment till 18)
Therefore the person consenting has a right to know pertinent details of the medical history if the child regardless if the child is in immediate danger or not. There are but a few exceptions to this. However it does leave it up to the doctor himself to release what he seems necessary and withold that which is deemed unnecessary.
So yes confidentiality does differ between adults and paediatrics.

Thanks Xeyn. I would have been 17 at the time and I presumed I was giving my own consent. Never involved parents at all.

It's actually just the trust issue that is worse, you know? If she had said that my parents would be informed of treatment periodically I would have understood. Been annoyed, but still would have understood.

Xeyn

Bosley1421 wrote: »

Thanks Xeyn. I would have been 17 at the time and I presumed I was giving my own consent. Never involved parents at all.

It's actually just the trust issue that is worse, you know? If she had said that my parents would be informed of treatment periodically I would have understood. Been annoyed, but still would have understood.

I think that would have been best practice to be honest, informing the patient that they were obliged to inform the parents. Your doctor didn't go about it in the best way. Trust needs to be built regardless if the patient is a minor or not.

Redpunto

I know legally the doctor would not give you any answers but I had the same problem with my Mum on and off and have had to phone/call into the doctor for advice in regards to what could be done. I was never told any diagnoses or test results but it was very helpful to express my concerns. The doctor rang my mum after and arranged to have a house visit. The PHN could also help. They have a legal obligation to people within their area and may be more approachable. Again I had to call and she arranged to pop down to my mum to see how she was.