Medico Legal Corner
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Can a doctor disclose his patient's information to the relatives?
As per Medical Council of India Code of Medical Ethics Clause 7.14, “The registered medical practitioner shall not disclose the secrets of a patient that have been learnt in the exercise of his/her profession except -
- in a court of law under orders of the Presiding Judge;
- in circumstances where there is a serious and identified risk to a specific person and/or community; and
- notifiable diseases.”
It is his duty that he should inform public health authorities immediately about any communicable or notifiable disease. However, the MCI Act does not define all secrets of patient.