Disclosure of pateint confidentiality

fannyanna

My personal view is that this breach is unacceptable.

Thankfully you are a supportive parent however not all parents are and sadly this breach could have created a real storm in some families.

I think this should be raised with the hospital - a lesson needs to be learnt.

suki1001

fannyanna wrote: »

My personal view is that this breach is unacceptable.

Thankfully you are a supportive parent however not all parents are and sadly this breach could have created a real storm in some families.

I think this should be raised with the hospital - a lesson needs to be learnt.

The sad fact is that this may have already happened. If someone was concerned that their parents wouldn't react well surely they might air their feelings to the hospital. 16 isn't that different to 15 - which theoretically means they are at risk even more? What does a child do in those circumstances? In terms of risk factor of parents finding out and sensitive cultural issues/abuse etc, surely the hospital needs to be careful at any age?

securityguy

Hanky_Panky wrote: »

Please don't waste the hospital's time ! It could be better spent on patient care.

Really until she reaches 18 she is still a child in law regardless of your personal view and the hospital has acted correctly by informing you.

Absolute, total, complete and utter nonsense. The hospital has acted contrary to two major pieces of case law, and that an NHS authority should appear to be ignorant of Axon/Gillick competence defies belief.


See:

The Queen on the application of Sue Axon v The Secretary of State for Health (The Family Planning Association: intervening) [2006] EWHC 37 (Admin)

which builds on

Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority [1986] 1 AC 112

miss_independent

suki1001 wrote: »

The sad fact is that this may have already happened. If someone was concerned that their parents wouldn't react well surely they might air their feelings to the hospital. 16 isn't that different to 15 - which theoretically means they are at risk even more? What does a child do in those circumstances? In terms of risk factor of parents finding out and sensitive cultural issues/abuse etc, surely the hospital needs to be careful at any age?

Very true. And its EXACTLY because of things like this that some teenagers will not seek medical attention when they suspect they are pregnant, going to extreme lengths to hide a pregnancy or worse still, end one alone.

securityguy

miss_independent wrote: »

Very true. And its EXACTLY because of things like this that some teenagers will not seek medical attention when they suspect they are pregnant, going to extreme lengths to hide a pregnancy or worse still, end one alone.

Hence Gillick and, later, Axon. The OP should, if they feel up to it, have a go at the hospital even if in this case no harm was done, as there are plenty of scenarios where a lot of harm could arise (although you'd hope that in such circumstances, the patient wouldn't rely on confidentiality of post sent to their parents' address, irrespective of the addressee).

creased-leach

Thanks Securityguy, it was the term Gillick competent that I've been searching my brain for over the last ten minutes.
Good luck op, and good on you for giving your daughter the security she needs.

As a 16 year old, my hospital appointment letter landed on my mums doormat (addressed to me) - she got to it before I did, and all hell broke loose. It added to the overwhelming confusion and pressure I was under at the time, and was a hassle I didn't need. Someone should be rapped over the knuckles over this.

aileth

miss_independent wrote: »

Try this;

http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Yourchoices/hospitalchoice/Pages/Hospitalcomplaints.aspx

I hope this wasn't the first of you finding out she was pregnant?

I do find that a lot of the time confidentiality isn't maintained even though it is clearly wrong and could be distressing.

When I was an older teenager my mum accompanied me for some tests (I was worried) and I needed a CT scan at one point. The lady asked me the date of my last period and I said that it had been 6 weeks before and that I suffered with irregular periods. She then informed me that the scan couldn't go ahead until I'd taken a pregnancy test. I burst out laughing and said there was absolutely no chance I was pregnant as I hadn't had sex. She told me I couldn't be sure?!

She then told me to get dressed and proceeded to go out into the hall and tell my mother that my scan couldn't go ahead as "there was a chance I was pregnant and the procedure could harm the baby" :eek:

Luckily my Mum knew me well enough to know I was a virgin but still, it was extremely embarassing.

I went to the GP with an upset tummy. He was convinced I was pregnant (I was 14 and still very much a virgin) and wouldn't let me leave the surgery until I had had a pregnancy test (My dad was in the waiting room!). When it came back negative, he still wouldn't accept and said there was such a high chance that the test was inaccurate. I left when he told me I needed a blood test.

I visited another GP a few days later, who told me to take some Gaviscon. I had bad indigestion....

Torry_Quine

That is a terrible breach of confidence which could have had a very different result in another family. I would be complaining about this.

Marshflower

Hello.
I'm usually a certified lurker on these boards but I couldn't read and run on this.
You absolutely must complain. Your daughter is very lucky to have a mum like you, but as you and others have pointed out - this is not always the case.
By complaining you will (hopefully) ensure the hospital and/or GP surgery review their practices when it comes to this type of situation, identify where it failed on this instance, and instigate a more robust procedure to ensure it doesn't happen again - with potenitally more serious consequences.
Please complain. They need to hear this kind of feedback.
I wish you, your daughter and her boyfriend lots of luck in whatever decision she makes.

miss_independent

aileth wrote: »

I went to the GP with an upset tummy. He was convinced I was pregnant (I was 14 and still very much a virgin) and wouldn't let me leave the surgery until I had had a pregnancy test (My dad was in the waiting room!). When it came back negative, he still wouldn't accept and said there was such a high chance that the test was inaccurate. I left when he told me I needed a blood test.

I visited another GP a few days later, who told me to take some Gaviscon. I had bad indigestion....

It doesn't surprise me at all! The reason I believe the member of staff dealing with me told my Mum (in a crowded hallway/corridor) was because I point blank refused to take a pregnancy test in front of her. She argued with me for a good fifteen minutes. I vividly remember saying, in good humour, "Well, it would have to be an immaculate conception!" and her not laughing. She said "I CANNOT let you go through the scanner. It could potentially harm your child." at which I got pretty angry and said, "What child? I've told you I haven't had sex. Do I have to spell it out for you? I'm a virgin!" and I'll never forget this look that she gave me as if she just didn't believe me. I suppose I should have just took the test but I was so annoyed that she thought I was lying and felt humiliated that she wanted me to take a pregnancy test. And I was so nervous about the scan anyway, I'd got myself worked up and just wanted it over and done with that day. Luckily, I spoke to a doctor, explained that I was 100% positive I could not be pregnant and he made sour puss do the scan .

The funniest thing is that when she told my Mum, she burst out laughing and said, "My daughter? Well it would have to be an immaculate conception!" To be honest, I was lucky she was like that with me and believed me because there were religious and cultural issues around my family too.

ETA: When I got back to college, my teacher asked me how the scan went and I told her and she told me I should complain as I was luckily that my Mum reacted the way she did. She pointed out, if I had have been pregnant, then I would only have just been discovering it for myself and was given no time to adapt/adjust and had I not been pregnant (which obviously I wasn't) then my Mum had been worried unnecessarily.