HC Deb 22 March 1982 vol 20 cc254-5W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps (a)to prevent the video-recording of private consultations between patients and medical practitioners, and of the use of such recordings for whatever purpose including the teaching of trainee practitioners, so as to maintain patients' confidentiality, and (b) to prevent sound recordings of consultations except where the patient expressly agrees to these being made.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Recording consultations between patients and medical practitioners is an increasingly important and useful method of teaching certain aspects of medical practice and is controlled by the ethical considerations of patient consent and confidentiality. I would expect any recordings of consultations to be made and put to any subsequent use only with the patient's full knowledge and consent and as far as I am aware this is invariably the case.