Blog

Patient confidentiality: winning the unwinnable [Case Study]

NZMPI — Mon, 20 May 2019 23:16:00 GMT

Which should win out in medical information: patient confidentiality or a subpoena?

This is the conundrum that Dr M was faced with. After treating a patient for years as their general practitioner, Dr M was served with documentation from an Australian law firm that demanded she produce her patient’s medical records for use in court.

Fearing a breach of patient confidentiality were she to comply or a breach of the law if she didn’t, Dr M found herself in a seemingly unwinnable situation.

Concerns about another medical practitioner [Case Study]

NZMPI — Mon, 13 May 2019 23:12:01 GMT

Unfortunately, and thankfully very rarely, medical practitioners have to deal with an underlying concern about a colleague. Whether it concerns a one-off event, or a more general anxiety over time, it is a worrying position for a practitioner to be in.

Pre- and post-surgery management: HDC Case

NZMPI — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 20:00:00 GMT

On 20 February 2018, the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) found that a DHB failed to provide services to Mr A with reasonable care and skill, and breached Right (4)(1) of the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.