Should doctors talk to relatives without a competent patient's consent?
A view from a student: ethical teaching, based on ethical guidelines, is at odds with clinical practice. Is this poor practice, or is the ethical guidance too simple?
Mytton
O
O
PRHO General Surgery, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 7JB, UK. oliver.mytton@doctors.org.uk
D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics*; D016743:Mental Competency; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics*