54. Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the decision of one of his Majesty's Judges at the Birmingham. Assizes on 18th July, 1927, that there was no privilege for medical men to refuse information to the Court obtained confidentially in the treatment of a patient suffering from a particular complaint, in spite of definite assurances in the past by the Ministry of Health that such information would be inviolate; and, as this decision by the learned Judge must exercise a deleterious effect upon the detection and treatment of this complaint by preventing sufferers from it seeking competent medical advice and treatment, what steps he proposes to take to implement the assurances given to such sufferers in the past that the information obtained by submitting themselves to treatment would be kept inviolate; and whether, in view of the importance of removing any obstacle to complete confidence between a patient and his medical adviser in the early stages of this disease, he will inquire into the desirability of introducing legislation to give a doctor the right, at least in the case of this disease, to refuse to give evidence about confidential information obtained from a patient?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to this case, and he proposes to give very careful consideration to the points raised by it.
Dr. DAVIESWill my hon. Friend ask the Minister of Health to bear in mind that this is dealing with panel patients, and that it is very likely to have a very deleterious effect on the treatment of the disease if the state of insecurity is felt, both by medical men and by patients?
§ Sir K. WOODThere are many difficult questions arising in connection with this subject. We propose to give it careful consideration.
§ Colonel DAYDoes the Minister propose to set up an inquiry?
§ Sir K. WOODNo, Sir.