Professional Code Of Physicians Essay

Introduction

Our law enforcement officials have a duty to protect citizens as well as discourage crimes from taking place. Our health care officials also have a duty to provide the best care possible to those who need it. Often enough, there have been many cases where both parties have come in contrast with each other on different levels of professionalism. The ultimate debate arises when doctors and law enforcement take into account the respect and privacy of patients. One of the issues that will be discussed in the paper focuses on the importance of doctors having to report gunshot wounds to the police. Many issues of ethics and morality come into play when judging which party is in favor. In our opinion, we believe that physicians should

In the case of a gunshot wound, the person being reported may or may not pose a risk to the public. There is no clear intervention that can be undertaken to mitigate or eliminate this undefined, and probably indefinable, risk. In other words, it would only be fair to disclose any of the confidential information when the need for maintenance of confidentiality is outweighed by a reasonable concern for public safety.

We can look at article 20.5 of the Professional Code, which states that:

… May not divulge facts or confidences which have come to his personal attention, except when the patient or the law authorizes him to do so, or when there are compelling and just grounds related to the health or safety of the patients or of others…”

By addressing this statement, we can divulge the importance by law, of disclosing such relevant information to the police. Similarly, the Professional Code of Physicians states a set of articles (21.4 to 21.7) whereby if the victim, for any reason was a witness

Ontario recently created a bill that would require hospitals to report anyone treated for gunshot wounds. The government believes that this bill will make a safer community. The McGuinty government is making Ontario communities safer by introducing legislation that would make it mandatory for hospitals to report to police whenever they treat someone for a gunshot wound. According to the chief of police, “Guns pose a unique threat to the safety of our communities.” Statistics for 2002/2003 reveal that of the 196 cases admitted to Ontario hospitals for injuries resulting from firearms, 96 were the result of assault, 69 were accidental and 31 were