Operating on patients wearing personal identity devices: a report of two cases.
We report on two patients who have recently required emergency surgery and who were wearing personal identity devices at the time of presentation. The devices bear a telephone number and a message stating that, if found, the management company should be informed of the whereabouts of their owner. We discuss the issues relating to the disclosure of information to a third party in this situation and whether there is any legal obligation to do so. The conclusion of a review of the relevant literature is that the only reason to divulge information to a third party would be if a patient posed a serious risk of death or serious harm to another party. In the majority of foreseeable circumstances, this would not be the case.
Hart
W J
WJ
Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK.
White
S H
SH
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics*; D004630:Emergencies; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics*; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000941:ethics*; D006113:United Kingdom