Autumn 2020

Confidentiality responsibilities to HIV positive patients

440X400 Kathryn Leask 23 Higher Res
ByDr Kathryn Leask
Published04 September 2020
Patients expect their communication with doctors to be kept confidential. Dr Kathryn Leask explores medico-legal issues faced by medics when a patient’s condition is also a communicable disease such as HIV.
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Doctors have an ethical and legal duty to protect patient’s personal information and generally, a patient’s consent should be sought before information is disclosed about them.

This page was correct at publication on 04/09/2020. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.

Dr Kathryn Leask
Medico-legal adviser BSc (Hons) MBChB (Hons) LLB MA MRCPCH FFFLM RCPathME DMedEth

Kathryn has been a medico-legal adviser with the MDU since 2007 and is a team leader, trainer and mentor in the medical advisory department. Before joining the MDU, she worked in paediatrics gaining her MRCPCH in 2002 and holds a CCT in clinical genetics. She has an MA in Healthcare Ethics and Law, a Bachelor of Law and a Professional Doctorate in Medical Ethics. She is also a fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine and has previously been an examiner and deputy chief examiner for the faculty. Kathryn is currently a member of the faculty’s training and education subcommittee and a member of the Royal College of Pathologists (medical examiner).

Confidentiality responsibilities to HIV positive patients