§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the insurance committee of the area comprising Bramley, near Basingstoke, received an intimation that a portion of the Exchequer grant payable to them will be withheld in consequence of a local medical practitioner having declined to give information detrimental to one of his patients acquired by him in the course of his profession, such information having been called for at the behest of a rich corporation with whom the man is insured; and whether he will take action to secure that a doctor shall not be penalised for doing his duty to his patient?
§ Sir A. MONDIn the case to which this question appears to refer, an approved society sought to obtain the opinion of the medical referee of the Ministry on the question of the incapacity for work of one of their members who was claiming sickness benefit, and I regret that the insurance practitioner has definitely declined to give any particulars as to the history and condition of the patient likely to assist the medical referee, notwithstanding the provision in his terms of service which clearly requires him to do this. In these circumstances it has become necessary to inform the doctor that a portion of the Exchequer grant forming part of his remuneration must be withheld, the grant being payable only if the terms of service were complied with. But, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations, any representations which the doctor may wish to make in the matter will first be considered.