Question

A police officer attends the emergency department asking for full access to a patient’s notes after a minor road traffic collision. The patient is conscious and has explicitly refused consent for disclosure. There is no court order. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Decline to disclose full records and explain you require consent or a legal basis to share

Answer

Provide full access as the police are an authority

Answer

Give verbal details of all medical findings without documenting it

Answer

Refuse to speak to the police at all

Answer

Automatically disclose everything as data protection does not apply to police

Practice question

A police officer attends the emergency department asking for full access to a patient’s notes after a minor road traffic collision. The patient is conscious and has explicitly refused consent for disclosure. There is no court order. What is the most appropriate response?