title: [Basic policy towards patient's violation of drug control law].
abstract: All medical workers have a duty to protect a patient's privacy by law. Civil servants have a duty to prosecute anyone if a crime has been committed and others have the right to prosecute. When medical workers find their patient using illegal drugs, they are in a situation where any possible action they take is either a breach of one of the duties or an abandonment of the right to prosecute. Any worker in this situation should choose to do what will greater benefit society. Medical workers should avoid prosecuting a patient for illegal drug use, so that drug users can seek help. At the same time medical workers should try to put the patient in a situation where the patient's drug use in the future can be treated by the criminal justice system.
authors.affiliation: National Shimofusa Hospital.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirai
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003416:Criminal Law; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D028681:Moral Obligations; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D018907:Privacy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*